Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-02-25

room, where the latter can be kept at 4
comfortable temperature, but Ne can
notall have new houses with all the mod
ern improvements, and if We can afford to
make our old ones more convenient for
those who have to do the work therein,
let us do SO. The making of the house
comfortable for those who spend their
days in it should be q part of our every
day work, as much O. the fixing up Of
barns and other buildings.
The Check Rein.
Men who understand horses never
make the mistakes which are made
hourly by people who are ignorant and
selfish. Eminent writer's have en-
deavored to educate the world to q
common sense treatment of horses, 80 as
to have them relieved of the agony
they endure in this enforced keeping
the head erect and the neck bent by
tight brides and CALLING bits. The au-
thor OF standard book on the health of
horses says: I am anxious to add nv
anathema against that inhuman instru:
ment of torture, the check rein. It is
not less detrimental to the utility of the
animal than it is replete with agony to
him. 1t must have been invented by q
savage, and can only be employed by
the insensate. Look at the elongated
mouths of the unfortunate animals thus
SO wantonly abused-torn by the bit in
their unavailng efforts to overcome
this truly barbarous instrument. What
produces that dreadful disease, poll-evil
but the action of this cruel strap, con-
straining the head during the violent
e1ertions of the animal, producing in
fammation and liberation of the point
in which it articulates with che spine?
Oh, ye daughters of the land, ladies who
compel your carriages to wait at the
theater, the shop, and houses of acquain-
tances for hours together think what
agony you might prevent by q little
thought for the dumb beasts who serve
you SO wellr It is doubtful if there is
any one humane topic more worthy of
American consideration than the treat
ment of horses. Millions of dollars are
invested in horsefesh, so that it be-
comes q matter worthy of commercial
consideration to those who have no
bowels of compassion and are callous to
the claims of brutes for merciful treat
ment. An eminent English writer
says:
1. If horse pulling load has his
head held in by oheck-rein he cannot
throw his weight into his collar, and is
hindered from giving his body that
position which is the most natural and
effective. He has to pull by the
strength of his muscles only, the weight
of his body is lost, and so much pulling
strength thrown away. What remains
is exerted at great expenditure of the
horses powers and health to say moth
ing of his comfort. The consequence is
that his limbs and muscles become
strained and distorted. His knees are
bowed forward and his hooks backward.
II a man pulls load by strap across
his shoulders he bends his head and
| chest forward aud relieves his legs. A
horse does the same when he can. and
ought always.
2. It Injuries the horse, not only in
the way described, but the confinement
OF the head in constrained position,
while the heart and lungs are excited by
the work, binders the breathing and the
| circulation of the blood in the head.
These effects make the horse uncom-
Portable, and he becomes restless and
irritable-in faot, his head aches and pains
him, and he gets many jag and blow
! just because bis driver cannot under
stand the cause of his restlesspess.
have seen many horses standing at
public house doors and other places in
this uneasy state, and by and by set off
in their desire to get home and be I'm.
harm essed, when the driver has rushed
out and punished the horse for his own
error.
! 8. The check-rein inflicts increasing
torture upon the animal in another way.
By holding the head upward it puts the
muscles OF the neck on constant strain.
They become painfully uneasy and
tired. If the horse cannot bear it, he
rests the weight OF his head upon the
rein and his mouth is violently
stretched. Thus he only exchanges one
torment for another. I am not making
fancy sketches; every word OF my
description is true. I have seen many
splendid and valuable horses, worthy Of
q better fate, tossing their heads inces-
sanity and champing their mouths into
foam from the intolerable uneasiness of
this cruel check-rein. To sum up in a
word the check-rein lessons the horses
strength, brings on q disease, keeps him
in pain, frets and Injuries his mouth
and epoils his temper.-INew York
Herald.
! Household Hinta
a LITTLE borax put in the water in
which napkins and red bordered towels
are to be washed will prevent them fad