298 
CURIOSA.—SURPRISING. 
the house, and by the love you bear to one object, let the case 
be farther inquired into. 
Dare I name the man? send for ---. He has more 
experience about rabies than any other surgeon whom I know. 
Tell him that I have seen the dog (don’t tell him, for your own 
sake, of the five shillings), tell him what I say, describe to him 
the symptoms as I have stated them, let him examine every 
patient, and submit to his decision. 
I urge you to do this, and your own heart will tell you that 
there needs no apology on my part for pressing this upon you. 
I am. Sir, your very obedient servant. 
SURPRISING. 
How TO Stop a Startled Horse. 
Dr. De Chemant has suggested the following means of pre^ 
venting accidents from high mettled horses:—The muscular 
strength of the horse being greater in the flexors than the exten¬ 
sors, a small chain, of about three yards long, covered with lea¬ 
ther, and contrived to fall, at pleasure, a few inches below the 
joint of the knee, would slacken the horse’s pace, or stop him at 
will. To accomplish this, the chain must be fixed to the harness 
by the two ends, about the middle of the body ; and, for greater 
security, a small piece of copper, one or two inches wide, could 
be placed on that part of the chain which would fall on the horse’s 
knee, so as to embrace the narrow part of the leg, and which 
would prevent the chain from sliding upwards. 
When not in use, the chain may be suspended round the 
neck of the horse, or be attached to the centre of the collar by 
a small cord which would pass behind the ears, and be fixed on 
the harness at the top of the head. Then, by means of a 
spring, made for that purpose, the chain could be let down at 
the will of the driver, or of those persons inside the carriage. 
‘‘To this invention may be added the following simple means of 
depriving the horse of his sight in an instant:—A pair of leather 
winkers, made concave, may be fixed to the harness on the fore¬ 
head with a spring, and which, on pulling the same cord that 
lets down the chain, would also close over his eyes.” 
Atlas newspaper. 
