492 THE HORSE BREAKING 



operation can be performed by an expert with least risk 

 while the animal stands on his feet, against a wall. The 

 horse may be cast by means of side ropes or by hobbles ; 

 but the danger in this is the possibility of injury to the 

 spine, brought about by the animal struggling when down. 

 The danger is increased if an attempt be made to hold the 

 feet so that he cannot move them in struggling. Something 

 must give ; and he is liable to slip, or break his back. The 

 testicles are usually removed by the ecraseur or the emas- 

 culator, or simply cut away after the spermatic arteries are 

 tied. The older methods of removal by cautery or by means 

 of wooden clams, are still much practised. The prevention 

 of complications after castration is best assured by the free 

 use of antiseptics before and after the operation, and by 

 giving the patient a clean box for the first couple of days, 

 and then turning him out to grass, if the season permits. 

 The chief after-danger is from lockjaw (tetanus), due to the 

 entry into the wound of the organism which causes it. It 

 may be successfully combated by the skilful injection of 

 weak solutions of perchloride of mercury. 



Strangles is a specific infective disease usually attacking 

 colts and fillies, but sometimes occurring in older horses. 

 " The symptoms are, loss of appetite, discharge from both 

 nostrils, slight fever, and the formation of an abscess or of 

 abscesses in the submaxillary glands. Treatment. House 

 patients in light and airy boxes ; supply plenty of fresh 

 drinking water, and give in it 2 drams of nitrate of potash 

 twice daily ; foment the abscess to encourage it to develop 

 on the outside, and as soon as it comes to a head let it 

 be lanced. Should the abscess burst inwardly, there is 

 danger of choking and blood-poisoning. When convalescent, 

 the patient must be well fed with nourishing food, and given 

 sulphate of iron and gentian as tonics." 



The practice of docking horses, or cutting off a portion 

 of the tail with the object of giving a better view of the 

 hind quarters, is likely to decrease in future. It may linger 

 among Hackney 1 studs, but it has almost been given up 

 among Clydesdale, though not in Shire, horses, and it is 

 decidedly objectionable when adopted in the case of large 



1 Undocked roadsters, when touched suddenly with the whip, are 

 liable to throw the tail over the reins, and, getting alarmed, kick or bolt. 



