The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Peaks, Passes and Glaciers : A Series of Exeur-
'sions- by Members of the Alpine Club. Edited by
John Ball, M.R.S.A., F.L.S., President of the
Alpine Club. Fifth Edition. Longman.
It must be a source of great satisfaction to the
reading public that this very valuable work should
be presented to them in, a cheaper form. It is one
of the most interesting books of its kind that has
appeared for years, and the fact of its having
reached a fifth edition attests the favour of its recep-
tion, and the universality of its appreciation. Its
information is all of the most authentic kind, being
given by those who have particularly distinguished
themselves for their skill in those mountainous re-
gions of which it treats. It is said of this present
small volume that " It has been frequently suggested
by members of the Alpine Club, and other Alpine
travellers, that an edition in a portable form suit-
able for carrying in the knapsack or pocket, -with-
out the coloured plates, but with the maps, would
be a convenient travelling manual for explorers in
the higher regions of the Alps." There is some-
thing particularly fascinating in these sketches of
the exploits of the daring travellers. The perils they
surmount, tha wonders they achieve, and the sub-
limity and beauty of the grand scenes of nature that
are outspread before them, all combine to blend a
degree of romance with the details of reality. The
courage and nerve requisite for such attempts bear
testimony to the daring and enterprise that have so
long animated the English character. This little
book is particularly appropriate at the present time
when so many will be setting out on their tours ;
and to those who stay at home it will impart use-
ful and agreeable information. It is, therefore,
most probable that similar success will attend its
appearance as that which greeted its predecessor
last year. •

Ms Illustrated Horse Doctor. By Edward May-
hew, M.R.C.V.S. H. Allen and Co.
Mr. Mayhew has presented this work to the
public under the conviction that it is only the
intelligent minority who will alone look upon it with
favour. That the unthinking majority who look
upon the horse as a machine incapable of feeling
or sensibility will consider a man who maintains
that humanity is a duty and that it would be an
advantage to the public to build hospitals for horses
insane. However this may be, Mr. Rarey, now
a great authority, is of Mr. Mayhew's opinion, and
we have no doubt that this valuable dictionary of
the veterinary art will meet with signal success.
We have before us a compendious history of all
the diseases which horseflesh is heir to, and
which man's abuse has bequeathed to it, with direc-
tions for treatment, and the necessary remedies,
likewise the exposure of popular falacies. In
entering on the disease called megrims the author
makes the following sensible remark :
" So little sympathy, exists between man and horse, so
little are the ailments of the animal really studied, that the
likeness between certain diseases affecting the master and
the servant, have not been observed. Megrims, evidently,
is a form of epilepsy ; yet, to speak of an epileptic horse
would, probably, induce laughter in any society. Notwith-
standing which man is not isolated in the world ' • he is as-
sociated with the creatures of the earth, not only by a com-
mon habitation, but by similar wants and like diseases. Ha
is united by nature to every life that breathes. His heart
should feel for, and his charity embrace, every animal that
serves him. He has his duty towards, and is bound by obli-
gations to, every creature placed under his control. None
are so subject to his will as the horse ; none have such
powerful claims to his kindness and forbearance. The noble
animal is begotten by man's permission ; its course in lifo
depends upon his word : for his service it surrenders every-
thing.
That horses suffer greatly from the ignorance of
their riders more than from any intentional cruelty
is very certain ; but whatever the cause the effect
is the same. A horse sinks exhausted in the field
after only a short run ; the rider is thunderstruck.
Had he read Mr. Mayhew's book, and taken
notice of the warning signal, of which, poor
man, he was unaware, and put on the break,
the catastrophe would not have been. It
is in cases such as these, or where accidents
happen in out of the way places, much use-
ful information is to be gained by the general reader.
It is not to be expected that an author who writes
with a view to preserving horseflesh from some of
the most ruinous abuses, and the public from unne-
cessary loss, should let the subject of the bearing-
rein pass without due censure. It is a fact now,
however, that this outrage on common sense as well
as humanity is confined almost exclusively to the
fashionable world ; and although beauty and
humanity are sacrificed, what matter the fashion 18
perfect. Were it the fashion for ladies d and
tlemen to ride, the former on the footboar _ en-
it
the gentlemen on the box, while Jackas an
a Wassdm eatla
inside, it would be all right so long
hew's ideas on the sa-
-1 mode. We quote Mr. May

much dispute as to thehas
any of the m. any lives by which
no feel-
pro"pTerhemreodise,
oaf%)
aningehsosirsliffe
, delights in laboured
ing either for itself f )sr of
ot modern times
;st -alinw,ays best pleased
and
it is not. when it is mistaken
.es,Gentilityharness,
faTvhouerosbt
jheectustes
to
iitmipsossuturrroorded2i
for something that
keep up the head, and to give to an animal with an ewe
Keck the aspect of one havinc, a lofty crest. The artifice is
the bearing rein in the hors
very transparent, it should deceive nobody save him who
is foolish enough to adopt it ; but it deprives the poor horse
of no little of its natural power. Gentlemen's coachmen
complain of the work when their horses are driven ten
miles daily, although the distance may be repeated by bro-
ken visits and shopping. The cabs of London can only
employ the horses which gentlemen have discarded; with
these last vehicles, however, no bearing rein is adopted.
The cast-off animal, which previously fagged over ten
miles, when reduced to the :ranks, has to pull loads
which no genteel carriage would carry, and to travel
a sufficient distance to pay horse, driver, conveyance,
and proprietor. In the possibility of such a contrast is,
perhaps, exemplified the cruelty of the bearing rein.
The work concludes with a brief summary, arranged
in alphabetical order, of the subjects previously,
treated on, upon which great care has been be-
stowed, and the known ability of the author gua-
rantees its worth. Hardly less attractive than the
letterpress are the four hundred beautifully exec ulld
woodcuts which accompany it, and whit rsIP Mr.
clearly the meaning. In conclus;on,
rZ, and the
Mayhew the success his work
I "t.
public the good taste to appreciate
dese