140 



THE VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



bowels will be empty, as it makes it easier on the horse when he 

 is thrown down and tied. Before throwing- the colt down, satisfy 

 yourself by examining- and asking if the colt has had any rup- 

 ture; if he is ruptured he will have to be operated on differently. 

 It is also a good plan to examine if both testicles are down before 

 throwing the animal. In aged horses, if the sheath is dirty it is 

 best to wash it out and oil it well with lard a few days before 

 operating; it often prevents swelling after castrating-. 



THROWING OR CASTING THE ANIMAL FOR THE OPERATION. 



There are various ways of doing this — some use the belt 

 tackling, others use Farmer Miles' tackling- — but the simplest and 

 most used in this country is the rope tackling, as shown in cut 

 below. This tackling consists of about forty feet of rope, f inch 



rope will do if good; make a loop by doubling it in the centre, 

 tie a knot and slip the loop over the head, pass the ends of the 

 rope back, one on each side, and run the rope through the ring- 

 in the hind hobble, which is made out of heavy, thick straps, and 

 buckles on the hind leg below the fetlock, and has a ring in front of 

 it to run the rope through. This hobble is better than putting 

 the rope around under the fetlock, as the rope burns the leg. 

 Pass the rope forward after it is put through the ring in the 

 hobble up to the neck and through the loop at the neck. Have a 

 man hold the head while one on each side pulls on the rope, same 

 as seen in the cut ; this will throw the animal. Now tie him 

 securely so that he will not hurt himself, then proceed with the 

 operation. 



