BLEEDING. 573 
THE HIND LEG IS SECURED in the same way as for castration, unless the 
fetlock is to be fired, when webbing must be applied to the thigh above 
the hock only. With most horses, however, firing can be performed 
without casting, by buckling up the fore leg, or by having it held by a 
competent assistant. 
WHEN THE HORSE is to be released, the hobbles are quietly unbuckled 
in succession, beginning with the undermost hind leg. 
SEVERAL IMPROVED HOBBLES have been invented, but they are suited 
rather for the veterinary surgeon than for the ordinary horsemaster, who 
will only require them for castration and minor operations. 
THE SIDE LINE is sometimes used for securing one hind leg thus :—the 
long rope and single hobble only are required, the latter being buckled to 
the hind pastern, which is to be secured. The rope is then passed over 
the withers and brought back round the bosom and shoulder of the same 
side as the leg to which it is secured, and then passed inside the first part 
of the rope, By pulling at the end of this cord the hind leg is drawn up 
to the shoulder, and secured there with a hitch, but the plan is not nearly 
so safe as casting, 
THE TREVIS OR BREAK consists of four strong posts driven into the 
ground, at the corners of a space six feet long by three feet wide. They 
are strongly braced together by wooden stays, three feet six inches from 
the ground on three sides, the fourth being left open for the horse to 
enter, after which this also is made good by a padded bar passed through 
stout iron rings fixed at three feet from the ground to the uprights. By 
means of this framework, to which sundry rings are bolted, the body of 
the horse is first securely confined by two broad bands under the belly 
and two above the shoulders and croup. ‘Thus he can neither rear nor 
kick to any extent sufficient to free himself, and all that is necessary is to 
lay hold of any limb selected for operation, and confine it to one of the 
uprights, or to some other convenient point. This is the best plan to be 
adopted for firing and other operations on the legs, and if the belly-bands 
are wide, strong, and secure, chloroform mav be administered in it, without 
the horse going down 
THE TwitcH is a short stick of strong ash, about the size of a mopstick, 
with a hole pierced near the end, through which is passed a piece of 
strong but small cord, and tied in a loop large enough to admit the open 
hand freely. This is passed over the upper lip close to the nostrils, and 
then, by twisting the stick, compression is made to a painful extent, 
which will keep horses quiet for any slight operation. Sometimes it is 
placed on the ear in preference, but in either case the effect is dependent 
on the pain produced. 
BaRNaceEs consist in the application of pressure by means of the 
handles of a pair of pincers inclosing the muzzle, and held firmly by an 
assistant, They are, however, not so useful as the twitch. 
BLEEDING. 
JN THE EARLY PART OF THE PRESENT CENTURY bleeding was resorted te 
on every appearance of the slightest inflammation, and often without the 
slightest necessity Many horses were regularly bled “every spring and 
fall,” to prevent mischief, as was supposed ; but at last it always happened 
to every horse which lived long enough, that the more frequently blood 
was taken the more the operation was required, and when it was absolutely 
wanted to lower the heart’s action, such a quantity of blood must be taken 
