98 THE NEW POCKET FAKRIER. 



DOCKING. 



It seldom happens that we dock a horse upon a 

 journey, but permit me to give a caution on that subject 

 here. In docking a horse, never put under his tail the 

 knife or instrument which is to cut it off; because then 

 you must strike the tail, which will bruise it, and it will 

 be apt to mortify ; but lay his tail next the block, and 

 (at one blow) drive the knife through a joint, if possible; 

 stand prepared with a hot iron to sear the end of the 

 dock and stop the bleeding. 



FLIES— HOW TO KEEP THEM OFF. 



Rub your horse every morning with walnut leaves : it 

 is certain to secure them from fli(^s and other insects. 



I have now mentioned most of the common accidents, 

 and have taken care, that under some of those heads, 

 you may find a great deal of help by the analogy they 

 have to one another : and having added more than is 

 necessary on a journey, I beg leave to end. 



There is no drug or composition put in here, but what 

 is very cheap, and may be had almost in every country 

 village you travel through; so I hope I have left no 

 difficulty on any body. But if I should be condemned 

 by some, for presuming to leave the beaten paths of all 

 the well known authors that wrote before me, how could 

 I answer to others, had I neglected an improvement 

 which may tufn to the general good of man and beast? 



I have read all I could find, and have tried their 

 receipts with great attention and expense ; and can say, 

 it was experience alone that led me into the knowledge 

 of contracting overgrown receipts, hastening cures, and 

 moderating costs. 



