A Little Ill to Distract Attention from a Big One.
Often we have seen tricks such as the following practised in the “bull ring” at the stock-yards. A horse having a small spot or speck in its eye which does not implicate the pupil, is sold to “wind and work” ([See Auction rule No. 3, page 50]).
The grooms and ringmen loudly draw the attention of the audience to the condition of the eye, and repeatedly assert that it does not amount to anything. This is done on purpose to distract attention from some far more serious defect that otherwise would be noticed by the prospective buyer. Dr. Hawley says of this scheme, “The horse is kept constantly in motion with the whip. The auctioneer and salesman are always looking for an angel to drop in, and one usually does. The horse is ordinarily sold to the angel on his first bid.”