EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 225 
to do mischief, and make an animal captive at our will, as de- 
priving him for a time of the capability of seeing. An 
unbroken colt, by being perfectly blind-folded for an hour, or 
even half that time, becomes a completely submissive crea- 
ture, and will stand stupidly still to be handled, and even 
shod for the first time. 
This being so, we have to learn what would be the effect 
of taking from a vicious horse the sense of seeing by blind- 
folding, and also the sense of hearing by stopping his ears, 
and then handling him fearlessly in this condition, lifting his 
feet, passing, it may be, between his legs, or even under his 
body, mounting upon his back, &c., to convince him of our 
power and superiority. Is it probable that he would allow 
of these things being done when his restraints were removed, 
and also become our willing slave? We think he would to a 
considerable extent, and especially if, during the time of our 
manipulations, an appeal is made to the gratification of his 
other senses which had not been rendered obtuse, more par- 
ticularly that of smell, by presenting to his nostrils some 
animal or vegetable effluvium for which he has a great liking, 
the sense of smell in the horse being extremely acute and 
delicate. 
The following explanation of the method has been given 
in The Boston [United States) Journal , which we have thought 
as well to extract, but without attaching too much import- 
ance to the statements : 
“Procure some horse-castor, and grate it fine. Also get some oil of 
Rhodium and oil of cumin, and keep the three separate in air-tight bottles. 
“ ‘ Rub a little oil of cumin upon your hand, and approach the horse in 
the field, on the windward side, so that he can smell the cumin. The horse 
will let you come up to him then without any trouble. Immediately rub 
your hand gently on the horse’s nose, getting a little of the oil on it. You 
can lead him anywhere. Give him a little of the castor on a piece of loaf 
sugar or potato. 
“ ‘Put eight drops of oil of Rhodium into a lady’s silver thimble. Take 
the thimble between the thumb and middle finger, stopping the mouth of 
the thimble to prevent the oil from running out while you opei* the mouth 
of the horse. As soon as you have opened the horse’s mouth, tip the 
thimble over upon his tongue, and he is your servant. He will follow you 
like a pet dog. He is now your pupil and your friend. You can teach him 
