BLEEDING. 431 



possible before the pull the necessity of the assistants all pulling together 

 and the power which one man standing at the head and firmly holding the 

 snaffle-bridle, and another at the haunch pushing the horse when he is begin- 

 ning to fall, have in bringing him on the proper side, and on the very spot on 

 which he is intended to lie, need not to be described. It will generally be found 

 most convenient to throw the patients on the off side, turning them over when 

 it is required. This, however, is a method of securing the horse to which we 

 repeat that we are not partial, and to which we should not resort except neces- 

 sity compelled ; for in the act of falling, and in the struggles after falling, many 

 accidents have occurred both to the horse and the surgeon *. 



Among the minor methods of restraint, but sufficient for many purposes, are 

 the twitch and the barnacles. The former consists of a noose passed through 

 a hole at the end of a strong stick, and in which the muzzle is inclosed. The 

 stick being turned round, the muzzle is securely retained, while the horse suffers 

 considerable pain from the pressure sufficiently great, indeed, to render him 

 comparatively inattentive to that which is produced by the operation ; at the 

 same time he is afraid to struggle, for every motion increases the agony caused 

 by the twitch, or the assistant has power to increase it by giving an additional 

 turn to the stick. 



The degree of pain produced by the application of the twitch should never 

 be forgotten or unnecessarily increased. In no case should it be resorted to 

 when milder measures would have the desired effect. Grooms and horse- 

 keepers are too much in the habit of having recourse to it when they have a 

 somewhat troublesome horse to manage. The degree of useless torture which 

 is thus inflicted in large establishments is dreadful ; and the temper of many a 

 horse is too frequently completely spoiled. 



The barnacles are the handles of the pincers placed over and inclosing the 

 muzzle, and which, being compressed by the assistant, give pain almost equal 

 to that of the twitch. These may appear to be barbarous modes of enforcing 

 submission, but they are absolutely indispensable. In a few instances the 

 blindfolding of the horse terrifies him into submission ; but this is not to be 

 depended upon. The twitch should be resorted to when the least resistance is 

 offered ; and when that, as it occasionally does, renders the horse more violent, 

 recourse must be had to the side-line or the hobbles. 



In the painful examination of the fore-leg or foot while on the ground, the 

 other foot should be held up by an assistant ; or, if his aid is required in an 

 operation, the knee may be fully bent, and the pastern tied up to the arm. 

 When the hind-leg is to be examined in the same way, the fore-leg on that side 

 should be held or fastened up. 



BLEEDING. 



The operation of bleeding has been already described (p. 248), but we would 

 remind our readers of the necessity, in every case of acute inflammation, of 

 making a large orifice, and abstracting the blood as rapidly as possible, for the 

 constitution will thus be the more speedily and beneficially affected ; and also 

 of the propriety of never determining to take a precise quantity of blood, but of 

 keeping the finger on the artery until the pulse begins to faulter, or the strong 

 beating of fever becomes softer, or the animal is faint, or the oppressed pulse of 

 inflammation of the lungs is rounder and fuller. 



In cases of inflammation, and in the hands of a skilful practitioner, bleeding 



* The safest and best hobbles are those vol. x. p. 108, and vol. xi. p. 163. Tho 

 invented by Mr. Gloag and improved by Mr. thumb-screw (fig. 3) should, however, be in- 

 Daws, as represented in the Veterinarian, verted. 



