The Osceola times., 1885-08-08
"D0CTORING" HORSES.
Tricks to Which Profe ssional Cop
ers" Resort.
"Adams" and "Bobbies" Transformed Into
Dexters for One Day OnIy-Howa
Debilitated Plug of Horse
May BE Rejuvenated.

IF you try TO buy an Arabian steed
from a cab-stand or from horse
sharper you will always be sold," re-
marked Central Station detective the
other day to a reporter. The CONVEX
sation had turned from horse-races in
general TO cheating at horse-tradine.
with special reference to dealer re-
Gently indicted by the grand jury for
obtaining money under false pretenses.
This man is one of the most accom-
plislfed horse "copersn in tine country.
He has been arrested innumerable times
for swindling people at horse-trading,
but has. with one exception, succeeded
in escaping because the law presumes
that a man has his eyes open in buyinp
horse. His victims are generally
people who are thorough believers in
their own superior knowledge of horse
flesh. Dealers of his ilk are known to
the police and sporting fraternity as
'copers. Their tricks and methods by
which an old horse or diseased one is
rejuvenated. and ''iixed up so as to
look like five-year-old until the bargain
is completed are so numerous that
it would require book to give an
adequate description of them
In attracting customers the cooper"
resorts to the advertising columns of the
daily papers. He announces to bona
tide cash customers" some astounding
prodigy of horse flesh which must be
sold for next to nothing on account of
the financial embarrassment of the own
er, the death of the head Of the family,
removal from the city, or some such
plausible reason. The advertisement
also sets forth that the animal is war
ranted to be what is represented
fine, the wording of the announcement
is such as TO make the average reader
believe in the honesty of the troubled
owner of the horse without the shadow
Of doubt.
The class of horses upon which the
"coper" operates is known TO the
"horse-jockey" by the slang term of
"Adam." II is an aged equine of some
blood, but sadly betraying the ravages
of time. To cover up the latter tempo
rarily, until the animal has changed
owners and until the price is paid, is the
scientific achievement of the "copper"
For instance. the horses teeth will slant
outward at most acute angela we'll
known sign of equine senility. He will
have deep depressions over the eyes,
which also'gives him very ancient ap-
pearance, and finally he will show white
hair all over his coat. To get rid of
these signs of going down the hill the
cooper" resorts to various tricks. BY
means Of a file he speedily reduces the
teeth of the ''old critter" to the length
of those of tive-year-old, and by q
clever process, called "bishopping" he
manages to initiate the dark marks or
cavities which are to be found on the
biting edges of all young horses teeth.
This is done by means of hot iron,
which burns out cavity in the tooth,
making the latter look like the real
thing, at least TO the uninitiated or cas-
ual observer.
Hair-dyc of all conceivable shades
and mixed upon scientific principles re-
duccs the white hair, which has been
bleached by the exposure of years. to
the pre- ailing color of the coat of the
"hoss." The third process indulged in
by the cooper" is that of ''gypping' or
putting the glims." 1t is as impor-
liant as the manipulation of the teeth,
because it gives the features of the ami
nal youthful appearance. The
sunken cavities over the eyes are treated
in this manner The loose skin, which
in very old horses nearly drops over the
eyes, is punctured and the "coper" pro-
ceeds TO blow up the hollows either with
his lips or with small bellows con-
structed for the purpose. The fine
punctures close up readily, the depres-
sion is obliterated and in its place u
smooth brow of youthful appearance is
seen.
As has been remarked, all these at
tempts to renew the .'Old Adam" are
of a very transitory nature, but they
last long enough TO deceive the pur-
chaser The latter is only too eager to
bite at bargain which, to all outward
appearances. is very profitable one.
The price is immensely cheap, and con-
sequently the guaranty is not very
'iosely looked uteT. IHe hoioo 10
taken to the buyers stable, where, after
being groomed the next morning, the
animal looks as If score Of winters had
passed over his head in one night.
Another kind of horse on which the
cooper" gets in his work in great style
is known in the language of the turf as
Bobby" This is the slangy term OF
fine looking animal afflicted with a
disease of the vertebral column which is
not apparant so long as the horse is led
up and down, even at run. The de-
feet Immediately becomes apparent SO
soon as the horse is mounted. To pre-
vent mount is fine piece of diplomacy
on the part of the cooper" But, at all
events, he has "gingered" the Bobby,
that is, given him stimulants known
only to the experienced jockey. and the
animal for short time is so full OF hire
and spirit that the purchaser readily alb
stains from an immediate mount.
Knowing buyers pinch up and down the
spine Of an animal before they buy him,
but then knowing ones rarely go to a
copper" for purchase.
ssTuo uyr<,v, we a N ot n, la onp rigbt.