Good Old Days circa 1900

A selection of pieces from old refrences that we found interesting...

If the horse bolts with you, recollect that, like the captain of the ship, the driver should be the last to leave. Far more accidents have happened to people from jumping out of a runaway carriage that to those who sat still on the box and endeavoured to obtain mastery over the animal. Keep his head, as straight as you can, and if you can face him up a hill, your advantage is naturally all the greater. (4)

But no matter how well it was cared for in the stable, the good health and life expectancy of a horse depended largely upon its hours of work; the prevailing road conditions; the weight of its load, and the treatment it received at the hands of the driver. Some railway horses were grossly overworked, double shifting being the prime cause of breakdowns. Often it was the best animals which suffered in this way, because being willing workers they would be taken from the stable at the end of a shift and used for another hour or so, backing-up in the goods yard.

An observant and feeling Carter would watch for signs of ill treatment and report his suspicions to the foreman. But too often a blind eye was turned to such malpractice and the stout-hearted horse suffered accordingly.

Animal welfare societies employed inspectors to patrol the streets, checking on the condition of horses, the size of the workload and the treatment meted out by the driver. Many railways had their own inspectors, who were bright-eyed wise to all the tricks of the trade; for instance, a horse with minor abrasions might have had its cuts dressed with soot to mask the injury. A driver caught sitting on the shafts of the cart or a chain-horse boy riding on the horse's back risked suspension with loss of wages, even summary dismissal.

From the company's viewpoint man-power was dispensable, there was no shortage of job applicants, but horses cost money to buy and keep and to have them indisposed and off the road was tantamount to down-time on an expensive piece of production machinery. A horse must be kept going until it had given the best years of its life in service; it could then be sold off and recover a few pounds towards the purchase price of a new animal. (3)

Foot-fastenings

Horses, which break or slip their collars, may all be effectual secured by a strap buckled round on of the four fetlocks and attached to a peg driven fast into the ground. The strap should be about 12 inches long. It is a practical fact that this fastening will hold almost any horse. A few horses may pull against it for a few days, and perhaps make the fetlock sore. The strap in such case may be shifted to the other fetlock. Almost all horses, however, after a few pulls find themselves powerless. And give up with good grace the attempt at getting loose. (1)

162. Artificial warming of stables

When the weather is cold and more warmth is desired, instead of shutting up too closely the stable and thereby destroying the purity of the air, it is better to have recourse to additional clothing or to artificial heating. The latter is very seldom applied to stables, but we feel sure that is would in the long run be much better economy to go to the expense of fires than to run the risk of the many diseases which are generated by foul air. An open fire, though more expensive than a stove is of far greater service, because, whilst it gives warmth, it also assists the ventilation.

192. Kicking in the stable

Some horses, by kicking in the stable, are constantly laming or disfiguring themselves, and endangering the lives or limbs of their attendants or of other horses, besides smashing partitions and walls. Kicking is a very troublesome vice, and many plans may perhaps be tried, before one can be found which will stop it in any particular animal. There is, in fact, no one recipe to stop kicking, but among many remedies, which may be tried, some one will generally be found to be effectual.

When the common remedies, such as a log fastened to the hind leg or a piece of furze hung up in rear, have failed, it is well to try the effect of a strap connecting one or both hind legs with one fore-leg; or both hind legs may be strapped together, but some horses, notwithstanding their hind legs are tied together, manage to kick by raising both hind legs at the same time. A block of wood or gutta percha, made to fit exactly into the hollow of the heal, and fastened in front by a strap frequently effectual prevents kicking in the stable.

Most horses may be stopped from kicking, when being groomed, by strapping up one fore-leg in the manner recommended some years back by Mr. Rarey; but in this case it is essential that a good substantial bed should be kept under the horse, as otherwise he may injure himself by slipping or falling on his knees.

It is not uncommon to find that horses, which have been stopped from kicking by the use of one of these plans, learn after a time to kick in spite of it. Another plan must then be tried.

In the great majority of cases, however, where horses are vicious, the servants are the real culprits. Ill tempered or idle or even timid servants cause horses to be, or allow them to become vicious. With good servants and gentle treatment very few horses give, or at least long continue to give trouble.

462. Grunting

Grunts, very similar to those given by roarers when threatened with a blow, are sometimes emitted by horses with big bellies, especially by those just taken up from a straw yard. The cause in such cases may be sudden pressure on the diaphragm from the stomach. Horses also, which have been long in dealers' yards and have been frequently examined as to their wind, will sometimes grunt on being approached on account of fear of a blow.

Such grunts have often no connection with roaring; but the horses, which emit them, should be examined as to their wind with more than ordinary care. Grunting and roaring usually go together, though, as above stated, they may be unconnected.

872. Bishop-ing

Marks on the incisors are occasionally simulated by means of caustic or the hot iron by low dealers with the view of deceiving the unwary.

The fraud is readily detected, because though it is easy to make a black mark on the crowns of the teeth, yet it is impossible to restore the wall of pearly enamal, with surrounds the natural mark.

569. Electricity

With the increase of knowledge in the control of this force, it is becoming more generally used in the treatment of certain diseases as a Nerve tonic or restorative, more especially in Paralysis. It is also a stimulus to muscles exhausted be excessive fatigue.

It has given permanent results in cases of paralysis of the lower lip, arising from injury or headgear pressure.

But the general use of Electricity in Paralysis has not yet been sufficiently tested to enable the Author to give any special recommendation in its favour. Still it is probable that in the progress of science much may at no very distant date be hoped from it in the treatment of the disease. Medical authorities tell us that it is an almost certain aid to diagnosis of the exact seat of Paralysis.

Extreme care is needed in its use, which should only be allowed in the hands of an expert professional man, as serious injury may result from its improper or incautious use. (1)

(1) Horses and Stables by Lieut. -General Sir F Fitzwygram, BART

Published by Longmans, Green and Co. 39 Paternoster Row, London, New York and Bombay 1901.

(3) The Long Haul (The life and times of the railway horse) by Bryan Holden Published by J. A. Allen & Co Ltd., 1 Lower Grosvenor Place, Buckingham Place Road, London, SW1W 0EL 1985

(4) Driving - by His Grace the 8th Duke of Beaufort, K.G.-The Badminton Library

Published by Ashford Press Publishing, 1 Church Road, Shedfield, Hampshire SO3 2HW 1986