1867.
Entered according to act of Congress, in theyear 1867,
By DICK & FITZGERALD,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court ofthe United States
for the Southern District of New York.
There is no more useful or willing animal than the Mule. Andperhaps there is no other animal so much abused, or so littlecared for. Popular opinion of his nature has not been favorable;and he has had to plod and work through life against theprejudices of the ignorant. Still, he has been the great friendof man, in war and in peace serving him well and faithfully. Ifhe could tell man what he most needed it would be kind treatment.We all know how much can be done to improve the condition andadvance the comfort of this animal; and he is a true friend ofhumanity who does what he can for his benefit. My object inwriting this book was to do what I could toward working out amuch needed reform in the breeding, care, and treatment of theseanimals. Let me ask that what I have said in regard to the valueof kind treatment be carefully read and followed. I have hadthirty years' experience in the use of this animal, and duringthat time have made his nature a study. The result of that studyis, that humanity as well as economy will be best served bykindness. It has indeed seemed to me that the Government mightmake a great saving every year by employing only such teamstersand wagon-masters as had been thoroughly instructed in thetreatment and management of animals, and were in every wayqualified to perform their duties properly. Indeed, it would seemonly reasonable not to trust a man with a valuable team ofanimals, or perhaps a train, until he had been thoroughlyinstructed in their use, and had received a certificate ofcapacity from the Quartermaster's Department. If this were done,it would go far to establish a system that would check that greatdestruction of animal life which costs the Government so heavy asum every year.
H.R.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 12, 1867.
I have, in another part of this work, spoken of the mule asbeing free from splint. Perhaps I should have said that I hadnever seen one that had it, notwithstanding the number I have hadto do with. There are, I know, persons who assert that they haveseen mules that had it. I ought to mention here, also, by way ofcorrection, that there is another ailment the mule does not havein common with the horse, and that is quarter-crack. The samecause that keeps them from having quarter-crack preserves themfrom splint--the want of front action.
A great many persons insist that a mule has no marrow in thebones of his legs. This is a very singula