COMMON HORSE, 339 
they are perpetually teased with swarms of insects* 
that either attempt to suck their blood* or to 
deposit their eggs in the rectum, which they 
have now no means of lashing off ; and in winter 
they are deprived of a necessary protection against 
the cold. 
But of alt others* the custom that we have 
adopted* for it is found in no other nation than 
this* of nicking them* is the most useless and absurd. 
It is an affecting sight to go into the stable of 
some eminent horse-dealer* and there behold a 
range of fine and beautiful steeds with their tails 
cut and slashed* tied up by pulleys to give them 
force* suffering such torture that they sometimes 
never recover the savage gashes they have received ; 
and for what is all this done ?■ — that they may hold 
their tails somewhat higher than they otherwise 
would* and be for ever after deprived of the power 
of moving the joints of them as a defence against 
flies 1 
In the history of the Academy of Sciences at 
Paris* a mode is laid down by which horses may 
at any time be stopped* when they become so unruly 
as to run away. This is founded on the principle 
of their always standing still when suddenly deprived 
of sight. M. Dalesme has there shewn a very easy 
manner of disposing two lines* which let fall at 
once upon the eyes of each of two coach horses 
a piece of leather* so as immediately to hinder them 
from seeing. These cords may he pulled from 
within the carriage. This appears capable of 
being improved into an useful preventive to the 
fatal accidents which sometimes occur from unruly 
or highly fed horses. 
