27.? 



THF MODERN SYSTEM 



ther from each other, which, if re-umted, 

 would of course frustrate the operation ; but 

 their removal greatly facilitates the healing of 

 the wounds. 



The section being thus completed, proceed 

 to restrain the hoemorrage, which is done in 

 various ways. By some, by means of strips 

 of cotton, tow, hemp, &c. ; which, twisted, 

 and inserted into each nick, are separately 

 tied on the back of the tail. In my own prac- 

 tice, I generally take a piece of lint, or a plegit 

 of tow, and introduce into each section suffi- 

 cient to fill it up, over which I place linen 

 strips, long enough to tie on the back of the 

 tail, which were then tied sufficiently tight to 

 restrain the bleeding. Should the bleeding, 

 however, continue to be more than was anti- 

 cipated, place another rather broader linen 

 bandage over each section. It becomes neces- 

 sary now to carefully watch these bandages, 

 that they do not create too much heat and 

 inflammation in the tail. Should this be the 

 case, and the bleeding not stopped, take a 

 sponge which has been dipped in cold water, 

 squeeze the water on the top of the tail seve- 

 ral times a day. Tiiis will cool the parts, and 

 tend to stop the bleeding, too. When per- 

 fectly satisfied on this point, you may loosen 

 your bandages a little, and if all things look 

 favourable, let the tail remain until the morn- 

 ing, when snip the bandage at liberty. 



Many persons differ in their mode of after- 

 dressing the sections. Some prefer lint only ; 

 others lint, with the mild digestive ointment, 

 and a bandage over all, in both instances. 

 There is one advantage in dressing with the 

 digestive ointment (^see medicines,) and that 

 is, it is apt to promote the suppurative pro- 

 cess, while tlic other is not. By promoting 

 ■uppuration, there is more chance of avoiding 



locked-jaw ; but in the first dressing, nothirif^ 

 promotes the healing process so much as dry 

 lint ; watching the wounds, that they be kept 

 from dirt and fungus, leave them to heal of 

 themselves, without any application but the 

 bandages. 



Were a nicked tail left to itself, there is no 

 doubt but the divided muscles would again 

 unite, and the tail be carried nearly as it \va.s 

 before ; therefore, to keep the divided end 

 apart, it is necessary that the tail should be 

 suspended, until the parts become cicatrized, 

 and such junction prevented. In former days, 

 a cushion, or pad, was formed, and fixed to 

 the Horse's rump, by means of buckles and 

 straps, and the tail fastened back to this pad. 



The Irish nicked Horses, you may always 

 discover from any other ; for there they break 

 the last joint, so you will always see an Irish 

 nicked Horse, with a peculiar curl-up at the 

 end of his tail. This is the cause of it. 



The modern mode of suspending the tail is 

 by double pulleys, and are not only simple, 

 but are capable of being easily rectified or 

 regulated at your pleasure. The apparatus 

 consists of two pulleys, to be fixed to a beam, 

 or joist in the stable, as wide apart as the stall 

 the Horse is to be placed in ; the wheels of 

 these are to be made sufficiently large to 

 admit of a kind of roller (similar to one used 

 for window-blinds,) and about a foot, or foot 

 and a half longer than the stall is wide. 

 Another pulley, corresponding to the two 

 others, runs loose on the roller, with this ad- 

 dition ; that instead of having an end to fasten 

 up any where, there is a larger wheej, but 

 made only wide enough for the suspension 

 cord to run on. This done, the end of the 

 line must be made fast to the Horse's tail, by 

 means of first having introduced a good strong 



