To harness a vicious mule, put the noose of a lariat over his head, taking care that it does not choke him; place him on the near side of a wagon; carry the end of the lariat between the spokes and around the felloe of the front wheel; walk back with it to the hind wheel, keeping it taut; pass the end between the spokes and around the felloe of that wheel, and pull the mule close to the wagon. Take care to have the lariat as high as the mule's breast in front and the flank in rear. =Breaking.=--Gentleness and patience are essential. First let the animal smell the saddle, etc. (an old one if possible). Then saddle carefully, girthing up gradually; when the mule will walk quietly about saddled, the rest of the harness may be added by degrees, particular care being taken in first putting on the crupper. When quite used to harness, accustom the mule to the sight of the load--at first bags of sand, about 80 pounds each. Load with these, the weight being increased if necessary. Battery-mules should follow the battery, barebacked, from their first arrival, and get used to the sights and sounds; and when broken to saddle and load, should go laden. They should be trained first on easy and then on difficult ground; also to cross shallow ditches and obstacles without hesitation, at first saddled, afterwards loaded. In leading a mule the rein should always be loose. A trained mule should lead. Avoid using the whip. VETERINARY TREATMENT. This treatment is about the same as for horses; common ailments are strangles, cold, sore mouth, poll-evil, fistulous withers, galls and sitfasts, thrush, colic, cramp, mange, grease. Where backs show the least sign of softness it is well to rub in salt and water. The same precaution should be taken with young mules about the part where the crupper is liable to chafe the dock, daily for a week before working. =Strangles.=--This is a specific fever of young animals, usually attended with swellings and inflammations; an abscess generally forms between the bones of the lower jaw or elsewhere in groups of lymphatic glands; there are cough, difficulty of swallowing, discharge at the nostrils, and general prostration. _Treatment._--Give light bran-mashes, plenty of common salt, and keep the animal in a warm dry stable, with plenty of pure air. Encourage the ulcer; apply Gombault's balsam, if at hand, three times a day to induce suppuration, or, when it has come sufficiently to a head and appears soft enough to lance, do so, being careful to avoid the glands and veins. Tonics, three times a day, such as 20 grains of quinine, or 1 ounce ground gentian, or a teaspoonful powdered sulphate of iron. =Cold.=--This disease seldom attacks mature mules in camp. Young stock on first being stabled, or stock out of hot, badly ventilated stables, on exposure may contract colds. The animal appears out of condition, with slight fever, eyes dull, cough and nasal discharge.