This apparatus may easily be used, not only by the post office authorities, but by every one who is obliged to deface a certain number of stamps every day, and wishes to do so rapidly and without possibility of error.
An ingenious, if scarcely necessary arrangement for conquering restive horses, and frightening them into submission, is shown in the illustration (fig. 262). Many means have been tried to stop or conquer a restive horse, but the most efficacious has been designed by M. Defoy; and the director of the Paris General Omnibus Company has experimented successfully, as we are informed, with the arrangement we are about to describe. A small magneto-electric machine is contained in a box beside the driver, within easy and convenient reach of his hand. The reins contain a wire, one end of which terminates in the horse’s bit, and the other in the electro-magnetic apparatus. When the electro-magnet is put in action an electric current is generated, which gives the horse a shock in the mouth, and so astonishes him that he suddenly stops in his course. If the operator have the humanity and good sense to unite kindness to the abrupt application of the electricity,—which in our opinion should be only used as a last resource,—no doubt some excellent results may be obtained even with vicious animals.
[Illustration: Fig. 261.—The electric stamp.]
M. Bella, the Director of the Omnibus Company, has reported that the apparatus was tried in his presence and found very successful, and quite easy of application; and that even the most unruly animals have been subjected by it. On one occasion a most restive animal was thus treated on the way to the forge. He had a tremendous objection to be shod, and made no secret of his dislike. But a gentle application of the electric current put quite an opposite complexion upon the matter, and after a few minutes the animal permitted himself to be patted and caressed, and even allowed the smith to feel his legs and inspect his feet without making any objection whatever. His shoes were taken off, and the horse was re-shod without any of the dangerous demonstrations hitherto indulged in by the animal.
We may quote another instance of the efficacy of this method, which is reported from Paris by M. Camille.