122 MODERN FARRIER. 



avoid the artery, which generally runs close to the 

 bone. The common practice is to cut three nicks 

 at equal distance from each other ; but in general 

 one nick will, be sufficient, especially as three are 

 apt to make the tail curve upwards, giving it a vul- 

 gar hackney -like character. 



' As soon as the operation is over, take some pled- 

 gets of tovf, rolled up at the ends, so as to tie like a 

 string, and having sprinkled some fine oatmeal upon 

 them, apply it to the divided part of the tail, and 

 tie it on tolerably tight, and over that tie on a flan- 

 nel bandage. The tail may then be put into the 

 pulley, letting the weight at the other end of the 

 string be just sufficient to keep the tail from falling 

 down. On the following morning, cut the ties of 

 the bandage through with the scissors, leaving on 

 the bandage, which will stick on owing to the coa- 

 gulated blood. This operation of cutting the tyes 

 of the bandage is necessary to be done on the fol- 

 lowing day, because the tail swells in some degi-ee^ 

 and if confined too long and too tight by the band- 

 age, a very high degree of inflammation and even 

 mortification may ensue. Owing to a want of 

 attention to this circumstance, it is said, that a regi- 

 ment of dragoons, in the English service, once lost 

 above forty horses in the same week, which had 

 undergone the operation of nicking. After the 

 operation is completed, the tail is to be suspended 

 by a pulley, with a weight at the end of it. The 

 object of this is to keep the divided edges of the 

 muscles apart from each other, so as to prevent them 

 from uniting again during the process of healing. 



' It has been customary to make three incisions in 

 the tail ; but this is not necessary, one being gene- 

 rally sufficient, as the muscles lose all power of acting 

 below the first incision. 



' The bandage may be taken off on the third day, 

 and the tail dressed with common digestive oint- 

 ment, spread upon pledgets of fine tow, and bound 



