Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-12-17

n
most other animals, are prolongations
OF their spinal columns. Through the.
basal portion of this passes the spinal
cord, which is an exquisitely sensitive
organ, communicating directly with the
brain. In the horse, the tail is peculiar
ly sensitive. Emotions are not so dis
tinctly expressed by ii as they are by
the tail of dog. yet, even to the most
obtuse observer, the movements of this
member are very expressive. A nervous
horse switches his tail with every emo,
ton OF surprise, inclination 10 kick,
bite or strike. 1t is carried nigh. when
the animal is happy. sportive, or proud
low. when he is timorous. sullen. or
vicious. The tail has four sets of mus
cles, which completely surround aud
protect the bone, or bony column of
eighteen distinct bones The nerves
are close to. or imbedded in the houe.
Externally it is protected by very thick,
strong skin. render ed all the thicker by
the great number II strong hairs, which
are here rooted. About one-third Of
the skin of the tail is free from coarse
hair, and apparently naked The hair
is firmly attached, so much so, indeed.
that single hair. which Is very strong,
will often break before i, can be pulled
ont by the roots. In our climate, the
Use OF long switcll-,ail is obvious. 1t
really seems like refined cruelty to need
lesslv "dock" il. so as to make it ucarl,
useless, or to prick it, and set it up
- a.. IN great measure. 10 deprive
the horse of it as defence against
flies.
4 little skill aud training on the part
OF the driver will prevent annoyance
and danger from the horse getting his
tail over the reins; and every horse
should be especially broken to feel the
rein beneath his tail. and 10 bear the
any exhibition of ncr, ousne,s 50 sem
Sitive i the tail. that ii horse has net
been accustomed To feeling rein under
ii. when it occurs for the first time
he may. if spirited. prove fractions. and
even uumauageablc. A. It Is an occur
renee likely TO happen at any time.
every horse should hr broken H. II. tl.ut
i. not ONLY not tomind il. hu, no., tn turn
his head. when he feel, the pull upon
one rein. which i, intended to ii>cn.a.e
IT. II general. iii- J. easily accom-
pl>hed. and a. ihi, !, the OILY iucou.
,cuience to the driver arising from lou.
tall. We are particular in showing low
both the ANNOYANCE and trouble from !,
may be avoided TAc annoyaucc which
sometimes comes from mud or cri,
being spia>hcd upon the tail. and then
being ilirtei abuu; by lis switching. /.
avoided hv tvin- the switch M in
muddy weather.
The strength al the tail j. >aipr,b;u,
amazing. The wr...r wa, fr,t made
aware Of il bv an accident. \ mower.
fu!. but awkward MARI. weirhinr prob
ABLY twelve hundred and ti,,, nonpd.
and over sixteen ba,d. Eiab. va. mis-
81. and fortunately. before sbe W.,
drowned. discovered ni-,I IN a .rriYg
hole. Her fore-ouarfcr. ,ar. ..n'ir.l,,
OH, of sight her head uearl, n.rpei
and her hind leu. bcdlrI IN III. mad
nearly 4, deeply a. her Ton, fee, w.rc
She had nr,baLJy been, .tru,.1i,.. ,.,5
getting deeper and deepcr in IN. mir,
far an hour or Two. and was c,n,ola,.ly
exhausted. We sunk 70 our knee. in
tn. bog when ltiif., hey had un3,.r
which We placeI = teuea.rau III. AZ.
80 immayall.. fila; tn. upi,ed s.~..e...l,
Of seycra, men. tu-g;ng a, her ,a1
copld ma, raise bqr Lirl-n,,~t,r. Ill
inch. strong ri.e. of .acl;ng va.
obtained. and We'll rubbed Win nn,, lar.
ed rn,ip. the tail wn. dried .o,n.,,l,,
and also .nri,kl.1 with ro.;, ,b., d,
band WA. made sbn,,i tbe ni31l. 81 tho
tail. aud strong ROPE. attached. which
were connected with AN inch robe.
doubled. and c>,endjps ON, Ia brr
ground. To this a pair OF STRONG
horse. was attached. Then. " hen at,rr
several GOOD pals. th. horse. d.j...a
their best. aad hayu- good ground to
stand on. scarcely any effect VA, pr,,-
dnccd. W. took rails. and we. rryi,.,
and the horse, ine.iag. ..uan.d' her
on, on dry erouul. The t,nl INNS. HAM.
wiih,,ooi draft Of a, l.4., three. ,n,.
and 50 we'll were the rope. attached
that NOT dozen hair, ucr, lo,.rn,l
and the naked Ior,,on. where ib.. s,ia
i very tender al the surface. wa. neither
ahra,icd ar bruised nor was # tender .r
sensitive after ali IL. strain. Tl.. Al.
taclineut wa, intended to d.. entirely ~
the hair,. th.a.h. Of course. there WA.
very strong pressure lroas,.f unou rb,.
tail. Ii j. altogether pr,ball,. TINT
lonc-tAilei horse, nigh; h. mad. ro
draw bv the tail. aid would 5n - Min
ease to themselves. They draw lioh,
wagons thus with pcrfeat ease. a. In.
been repeatedly proved. and +, i oni,,.
likely that. with a .llit,bl. rio vhifH..
trees might be entirely dispensed with
in pIowing. which wnnll Le , ,,~.,,
''NH"-' 80 80 'sh'47'