The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-05-04
HORSE TRADES.


That there are tricks in all
trades" there is no question, but it
is question whether there is any
trade in which there are so many
tricks practiced as in horse dealing
A certain class of men, known
among veterinary surgeons as ''gyp-
pers, carry on trade which brings
into use tricks" which are against
every law forbidding cruelty TO ami
mails.
These "gyppers" set up establish
mehts in the various fashionable To-
calities, where they dispose of
family driving horses, "a young
lady's pet mare" Children s
ponies" and SO on through the cata-
logue at very small sums, providing
also that "the horse can be given a
good home"
A family is leaving for Europe, a
young man whose father has recent
ly failed (names never being dis
closed by request) wants to dispose
of fine animal, but the good home
ia the chief object.
The veterinary surgeon Gan &C.
complice) Is called IN. He testifes
TO the soundness of the animal and
grants a certificate. A grand sale is
made, and by the time the buyers
have discovered their mistake the
establishment has moved and all
trace Of the "gypper" is lost.
One of the first and most impor-
tant steps is to make the teeth of an
old horse resemble those of 5-year-
old. The teeth of young horse con-
tain large cavities which grow
smaller as the horse ages.
The black lining of the tooth,
which must be visible, is burned in
with nitrate of silver or some other
chemical agent. The painfulness of
this operation can be judged by
every reader who has ever spent ten
minutes in the dentists chair of
torture.
A young horse is naturally full in
the face. Sunken eyes intimate ap-
preaching age. This is rectified by
inserting hypodermic needle just
above the orbits of the eyes and
blowing II up with air.
In case of distemper or influenza
the discharge is temporarily stopped
by plugging one nostril with
sponge.
Perhaps the most brutal thing to
which a horse is subjected by these
"gyppers is in the case of horse
blind in one eye or where cataract
lessons his value. The dealer with
out any compunction whatever
punctures the eye. which runs out,
and thea inserts an artificial one.
The operation is a most delicate
one, and, needless to say. extremely
painful
If the dealer finds himself burden
cd with lame horse whose condi-
don suggests no immediate change
for the better, he sewers the nerve
that supplies the foot, an operation
which is termed by surgeons neu-
rotomy. The relief is but temporary,
and the suffering of the horse is
supposed to be intense.
When a horse has quarter crack,
it is quickly filled with gutta percha
or putty and painted to match the
hoof.
The way to make high STEP
per" is to rub the back tendons of |
the legs with turpentine and cow
itch, which burns like fire and |
makes the horse prance with pain.
Chloral hydrate and opium and |
the different narcotics are admins |
tered to tricky horses, absorbent
cotton is plugged in the ears of shy |
ones, and "wedging" is resorted to
in cases of lameness. An iron wedge
is driven underneath the shoe of !
the corresponding foot, causing both
legs to go lame alike, which only |
gives.th horse a different motion.
New York World.