THE HORSE. 759 



Docking and Nicking. The custom of docking the tails of horses, so prevalent 

 some years ago, both in England and America, is as absurd as it is cruel, and should become 

 forever obsolete. It is a great disfigurement to a horse, and many an otherwise beautiful 

 animal has been in a great measure shorn of his beauty for life by this means, while there is 

 really no advantage to be gained by it. The argument claimed in favor of docking is that it 

 prevents the animal from switching its tail over the reins, which in many cases, with a high- 

 spirited horse, might cause him to become frightened and the driver to lose control over him. 

 All trouble from this cause may be prevented by having an iron or steel rod fastened from 

 four to six inches above the whole length of the dash-board, for the reins to rest upon. This 

 will keep them so much higher than the rump of the horse that he will not be able to switch 

 his tail over them. 



Nicking is a barbarous and inhuman custom, formerly fashionable, but now nearly obso 

 lete. It should be forever prohibited by law. The man who practices it, justly deserves to 

 suffer the severe penalties of the law. A horse with his tail shortened by docking, or weak 

 ened by nicking, endures great annoyance from the flies, besides the suffering inflicted at the 

 time of the operation. Horses upon which the latter has been practiced have sometimes died 

 of lock-jaw. 



Bleeding. There are very rare instances in the treatment of horses in which bleeding 

 is beneficial. The practice of frequent bleeding, and for almost every ailment, as followed in 

 the old time heroic treatment, we are glad to record as now obsolete, except it may be still 

 adhered to by a few ignorant quacks, or so called &quot;horse doctors,&quot; who, not knowing what 

 else to do for the poor animal under their charge, will generally administer a sufficient 

 amount of powerful drugs to nearly kill him, and then proceed to reduce what little vitality 

 he has left by bleeding, or they will reverse the treatment, and bleed first, and drug after 

 ward, and if the horse manages to live through it all, they will take to themselves great 

 credit for skill in the remarkable cure they have performed I 



The blood is that upon which the vital forces depend, containing the very element of 

 life, and the withdrawal of it frequently, or in large quantities, cannot be otherwise than 

 weakening to the vital forces of- the animal system. Nature generally supplies the proper 

 amount of blood required by the system, and when this amount is often reduced, there will 

 be an unnaturally vigorous action in the blood-forming process, in the effort to make up for 

 the deficiency of bleeding, which may in time become habitual and result in an apoplectic 

 condition. It is safe to assert as a general rule, with few exceptions, that nature performs 

 her work best without interference from man. Fn apoplexy, staggers, and a few other 

 diseases or conditions, bleeding may prove very efficacious, but it should be done with the 

 greatest care, and by the direction of an intelligent veterinarian. 



In bleeding, a fleam or lancet may be used. The horse should be blindfolded in order 

 to keep him quiet during the operation. The jugular vein is generally selected for the 

 purpose, the point to be chosen being about two inches below the junction of the two portions 

 of this vein, at the angle of the jaw. If a gentle pressure be applied with the finger of the 

 left hand, the vein will enlarge and be distinctly traced at once. The edge of the lance or 

 fleam should be placed directly in line with the course of the vein, and over its center. 

 Great care must be used not to cut so deep that the opposite side of the vein will be opened. 

 A small quantity of blood drawn quickly is much more beneficial than a larger quantity 

 drawn slowly. The quantity to be drawn will depend altogether upon the condition of the 

 animal, and the purpose of the treatment. We are decidedly opposed to large quantities 

 being taken for any purpose. 



When sufficient blood has been taken, the edges of the wound should be brought closely 

 and evenly together, and held so by a small sharp pin being passed through them carefully, 

 and a few hairs from the mane, or thread wound around enough to cover the wound. The 

 animal should be so tied, for a few hours, as to prevent rubbing the place against anything. 



