THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
291 
following observations, recorded in the reports of the captains of batteries, 
and of companies of the military train. 
* * * * 
Owing solely to the adoption of the Iricole, we have been enabled to put 
in to our teams in Mexico, animals unequal in size, form, and aptitudes, 
which necessity had made us accept as remounts. 
Thirteen pairs of old collars have been issued to the 1st battery, 9th 
regiment; twenty pairs of new collars of the guard , and fifteen pairs of 
American collars have been given to the train. The bad service they 
rendered exhibits the embarrassment in which the army would have found 
itself, if it had been still equipped with its old system of harness. These 
collars were altered repaired and furnished with pads in vain, they still 
continued to cause galls. 
The battery of the 9th regiment was obliged to get rid of its collars after 
the taking of Puebla. 
The companies of the train only kept theirs for want of bricoles. These 
on the contrary have only caused few and trifling galls. The mules from 
New York, hot and untrained young animals suffered most, but all became 
cured spontaneously and quickly during the march. 
The cleaning and greasing of the internal part of the breast strap are 
easy, and the leather has lost nothing of its suppleness during the 
campaign. 
The parts of the breast strap which undergo wear are, 
(1) The fold of the body of the Iricole which gets cut in the middle of 
the chest in consequence of the rubbing of the neck stall; this inconvenience 
could be avoided, for some batteries have afforded no examples of it, whilst 
in others it occurs in every Iricole . 
(2) The lay of the Iricole which becomes worn and gets unsewn in 
consequence of the friction of the breeching* 
* 
The damages incurred are of trifling importance* 
