Heavy draught horses, going up hill with much weight behind, sometimes choke in the collar. The collar presses upon the windpipe, and the horse instantly falls; sometimes he staggers for a moment before sinking, but in general there is no warning. Should the fall throw the collar off the windpipe, the horse recovers immediately. The first thing to be done is to free the windpipe, if it be not already free. The collar must be pulled down, or the draught rolled forward, so as to throw the strain from the collar. This must be done quickly; pressure on the windpipe will produce death in three minutes. Should the driver observe the horse stagger before he falls, he may keep him on his feet by pulling him to a side, setting the wheels across the bill.

When the horse is at a dead pull with his mouth full of food, he is very easily choked. The accident is very common on canal banks. At certain places the horses are fed, and often put to draw before the mouth is empty. As the food goes down the gullet, it is intercepted by the collar, and the two pressing on the windpipe instantly choke the horse He generally falls into the water. Many horses are lost in this way. The mouth should be quite empty before the horse is yoked. Before starting, a little water may be. given, which will carry the contents of the mouth before it. No horse should be put to a hill, or to any dead pull, with food in his mouth; and, food or no food, the driver should always keep his eye on the collar, and his hand at the head, while the horse is going up a steep hill, with much weight behind him.

Fast-working horses are liable to what is termed swooning in the collar. The horse staggers, swings from side to side, lies on the pole, stops and falls or falls running. I know not whether this arises from pressure on the windpipe, or from accumulation of blood in the head. It is most common in hot weather, going up hill; some are very liable to it. Whenever the horse shows any giddiness, he should be pulled up. He will recover in a minute. Before proceeding, see that the windpipe be free, and the bearing-rein slack. Should the horse fall, remove harness, and assist him to rise, when he revives. If water be at hand, give two or three quarts, and start at a gentle pace. It is needless to bleed him at the mouth. If bloodletting is to do any good, it should be from the neck after work is over; but it is rarely necessary. Next journey, change the horse's place to the other side, to the lead or to the wheel. Let his head be quite free, and see if his collar can be improved; and let him be fed an hour earlier than usual before going to work.