430 OPERATIONS. 



his legs again, especially if he is old, or exhausted, or injured by the fall. The 

 principal object is, to support the head, and to render it a fixed point from 

 which the muscles may act in supporting the body. 



If the horse is in harness, it is seldom that he can rise until he is freed from 

 the shafts and traces. The first thing is to secure the head, and to keep it 

 down, that he may not beat himself against the ground. Next, the parts of 

 the harness connected with the carriage must be unbuckled the carriage must 

 then be backed a little way, so that he may have room to rise. If necessary, 

 the traces must be taken off ; and after the horse gets up he must be steadied a 

 little, until he collects himself. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

 OPERATIONS. 



THESE belong more to the veterinary-surgeon than to the proprietor of the 

 horse, but a short account of the manner of conducting the principal ones should 

 not be omitted. 



It is frequently necessary to bind the human patient, and in no painful or 

 dangerous operation should this be omitted. It is more necessary to bind the 

 horse, who is not under the control of reason, and whose struggles may not 

 only be injurious to himself but dangerous to the operator. 



The trevis is a machine indispensable in every continental forge ; even the 

 quietest horses are there put into it to be shod. 



The side-line is a very simple and useful method of confining the horse, and 

 placing him in sufficient subjection for the operations of docking, nicking, and 

 slight firing. The long line of the hobbles, or a common cart-rope with a noose 

 at the end, is fastened on the pastern of the hind-leg that is not to be operated on. 

 The rope attached to it is then brought over the neck and round the withers, 

 and there tied to the portion that comes from the leg. The leg may thus be 

 drawn so far forward that, while the horse evidently cannot kick with that leg, 

 he is disarmed of the other ; for he would not have sufficient support under 

 him if he attempted to raise it : neither can he easily use his fore-legs, or, 

 if he attempts it, one of them may be lifted up, and then he becomes nearly 

 powerless. If necessary, the aid of the twitch or the barnacles may be 

 resorted to. 



For every minor operation, and even for many that are of more importance, 

 this mode of restraint is sufficient, especially if the operator has active and 

 determined assistants ; and we confess that we are no friends to the casting of 

 horses, if it can possibly be prevented. When both legs are included in the 

 hobble or rope as hi another way of using the side-line the horse may appear 

 to be more secure ; but there is greater danger of his falling in his violent 

 struggles during the operation. 



For castrating and severe firing the animal must be thrown. The safety of 

 the horse and of the operator will require the use of the improved hobbles, by 

 which any leg may be released from confinement, and returned to it at pleasure ; 

 and, when the operation is ended, the whole of the legs may be set at liberty 

 at once without danger. The method of putting the legs as closely together as 



