The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-09

overhead check rein has been started in .hontgomery. on ordinance to make 1t standing with his head checked high up Tn the air has been introduced in the City Council and Is pending there now.
 In Aaontgomery numoer of gentlemen
 to whom the sight of a horse standing
 with his head checked high in the air
 Is abhorrent are working to have the
 evil practice abolished. The following ar-
 ray of facts and arguments were prepared
 by Professor Charles L. Doll, a well known citizen. of Montgomery who has for many years taken an interest in this question: .rCheck reins cause more stiff shoul- ders and weak knees than all other causes combined. "-Chief of Paris Horse Hos pital. ,,.2
 We. the undersigned veterinary sur geons, are of opinion that the use of bearing-rein, when tightly applied, is painful and irritating to. horses, is di-
 ease when regularly worn. and by its
 mechanical action greatly flinders horses
 from employing their full strength. For
 the above reasons, on the plea of utility as well as of humanity. It's use should R. V. C.. London; Professor Axe. k. V. C.; Professor Valley, R. V. C., Edin- burgh; Professor Mccall, Vet. C., Glas- gow; Professor Mayer, Agr. C., Ciree- sssses ns ss Mad ass rroS e.
 
 Dr. Fleming, army veterinary. inspect or. War Office (F. R. c. s., M. A. T) President c. V. M. S., President Royal c. V. S.. author of several medical and can be more absurd than check reins. They are against reason altogether. They place the animal in a false position. I nave no doubt If the public could only realize the fact that 1t throws away a large portion of the horses power alto gether, and is very cruel besides, this Eein would be discontinued. It Is not only the head that suffers, but from his head
 to his tail, from his shoulders to his
 hoof, and over his whole body he suf-
 pressure tends to give the animal a hard
 mouth, and therefore render 1t less obe-
 dlent to the drivers rein. It does not
 prevent stumbling, but on the contrary
 more serenity than If it were not used.
 It may directly or indirectly produce an
 attack of. glanders or apoplexy. the last
 probably terminating in death. For heavy
 draught in addition to the torture It
 occasions, it causes a large part of the
 horse's power to be lost, from the ani-
 nal being unable to get his head and
 neck down, and thus to throw more of
 the weight of his body Into the collar.
 The powerful muscles which pull for
 ward the shoulders and indirectly the fore
 limbs, and which are attached to the
 head and neck, are by 1t placed in the
 least favorable position for exercising their functions, so that the horses action as well as its speed and strength are i'm
 paired from this mechanical disadvan-
 tage. Ie causes pain and distress In
 breathing, tends to distort the upper part of the windpipe, and causes roaring. II frets the temper of nervous or excitaoie horses and shortens the lives of all.
 William Pritchard, President Vet. Col, says: An act of great cruelty is be- ing perpetrated, and in many instances by very good people who know not what they do.' Were they aware of the pain they are infiicting. l am sure they would soon bring about the abolition of a custom which undoubtedly Is source of much evil. Some persons imag- inc that by so refining up the head, the this is an error. The horse with his head in a fixed pUsition Is not sa able to avoid obstacles in his path. as when he has fair opportunity to move 1t from side to side and upward and downward. The continued pressure of the bit of the check rein deadens the surrounding portion of the mouth. i'll suited to re- ceive a sudden check from She driver in the event of the horse stumbling from any cause. Instead of preventing falling. the check rein Is calculated to render falling more frequent Other not uncom- mon results of its use are, distortion of the windpipe to such degree as to i'm pede the respiration ever afterwards. excoriation of the mouth and lips. par alysis of the muscles of the face, etc. It is useless appendage. supported only by fashion,"
 Dr. Kitching of York, an eminent writer, says: If a horse pulling load has his head held in by check rein, he cannot throw his weight into his col lar, and is hindered from giving his body that position which is the most nat ural 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 to great expenditure or horses powers and health. to say notn- 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. 1t tnJures the horse not only in the way described. but the confinement of the head in a constrained position whilst the heart and lungs are excited by work, flinders the breathing and the circulation of the blood in the head. These enects make the horse uncomfortable, ne pe- comes restless and Irritable; in fact his head aches and pains him, and he sets many violent jag and blow just De- cause hls driver cannot understand tne cause of his restlessness- The check rein infilcts unceasing torture upon the animal in another way. By holding the head upwards, it puts the muscles or the neck on a constant strain. They become painfully uneasy and tired. h the horse cannot bear 1t, he rests the weight Of his head upon the rein, and his mouth Is violently stretched Thus he only ex- changes one torment for another. have seen many splendid and valuable horses. worthy of a better fate, tossing the1r heads necessarily and champing their Into a foam from the intolerable uneasiness of this cruel check rein. To sum lp in word: the check rein lessens the horses strength, brings on disease, keeps him in pain. frets and inJures his mouth and spells his temper"
 John Adam McBride, Professor Vet. Med. and Surg. Royal Agri. Col: "I most heartily concur In what has been written by Professor. PFitchard and Dr. as to the bad effects of the foolish custom of using the check rein. That the check rein Is a very common cause of roaring in the horse. is sn- iorsed by all veterinarians. In its effect Upon the circulation of the blood, upon he veins and upon the arteries, it pre- lsposes the unfGrtunaIe victim Of fash on to such diseases as megrims, apo Dlexy. coma. inflammation and soften uR of the brain."
 Professor Axe, Royal Vet. Col: 'The check rein Is responsible for poll evil. lbscess. sprung knees, paralysis and dis cases of the brain and mucles.'
 pr. McEachran, r. R. C.. E.- S.: "The 1verdraw check is a disgrace to civihza- ion"
 W. J. Arkooll. Macclesfleld Royal C. V. S.: If a horse stumbles he is not Lble to recover himself or regain hls witE the bearing rein on. and broken knees follow as a consequence, md stumbles. the probability Is that | le will recover himself without Injury. This 1 have seen over and over again." |
 There is an important difference be- | med rein in the drivers hand. The first | x injurious while the latter Ia often use |