EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
221 
the other we can often entirely eradicate. Kindness, a gentle 
word, a stroke of the hand, will frequently make a willing 
slave of a horse which has throughout his previous career 
resisted punishment and austerity. These means, however, 
are too rarely had recourse to ; persons are far more ready 
with the blow than the word. Were the other method 
usually adopted, and humanity made to take the place of 
punishment, we should hear less of vicious horses than we 
are accustomed to do. Gentle restraint, continued good 
management and kind treatment will often effect a lasting 
benefit, but surely temperament, idiosyncrasy, hereditary 
disposition, and proved superiority of the vicious horse, are 
not all to be dispelled and scattered to the winds for ever 
by a half hour’s tete-a-tete with a charmer — charm he never 
so wisely. 
Let experience but prove that the adoption of Mr. Rarey’s 
plan will make the horse so submissive that almost at our 
bidding he will resume any position we desire, and see the 
great advantage which will be conferred on our profession. 
The casting of horses for operations will be got rid of, all 
risk of danger thereby removed, and much pain and suffering 
saved. We do not anticipate these great things, or that our 
power will be so complete that the animal will not shrink at 
the touch of the knife ; but having caused him to lie down, 
and then bringing him under the influence of our anaes- 
thetic agents, veterinary surgery will really become quite a 
luxury. 
Mr. Rarey’s system has not only excited an interest in the 
public mind of this country, but has done the same thing 
with our continental friends. Having made his way to an Eng- 
lish court, there would not be much difficulty in reaching a 
French one, especially when we consider the friendly alliance 
which happily now exists between the two. The Emperor, 
however, did not give his sanction to any such scheftie, as 
the obtaining of e< 500 pupils at ten guineas each” for in- 
struction, but appointed a commission to inquire and report 
30 
XXXI. 
