26 TREATMENT OF DISEASES 



soreness, from doing double an amount of ordinary work, another, 

 whose muscles are only of half the average strength, will have a 

 similar result from doing hi^ ordinary work. 



" The deduction, then, was inevitable, that myalgic pains would 

 be common and severe in direct proportion to the patient's debility. 

 But it is still necessary to demonstrate, that the muscles of various 

 individuals had vaa-ying powers ; and still more important was it to 

 show that those of the same individual varied in power according 

 to circumstances." 



By trials of strength, &c., the Lecturer showed, very conclusively, 

 the facts sought foi*. 



PRICKING OR NICKING HORSES' TAILS. 



Nicking Hokses. — The English method of nicking horses is, 

 instead of inserti7}g a knife and making a subcutaneotcs section of 

 the 7nnscles of the tail, known as the depressors, to make three 

 straight incisions at equal distances right across the tail ; by this 

 method the muscles of the tail are effectually or completely divided. 

 The first incision is usually made about two inches from the root of 

 the tail, and the other two at equal distances from the first, in a 

 direction towards the end of the tail. 



The tail is then kept perpendicular, in the usual manner, by pul- 

 lies. It is said that by this method a more graceful curvature of the 

 tail is secured, which I believe is a flict ; yet the operation is any- 

 thing but pleasant to the horse. It is one of the fashionable barba- 

 risms of civilization. 



The English method of nicking, although the most unsightly 

 and barbarous, is still the safest, as there is less liability to locked 

 jaw. It is well known that locked jaw more frequently ensues from 

 a punctured wound, than a clean cut or incision. Yet when nick- 

 ing or pricking after the American fashion, if care be taken to make 

 the orifice through the skin suft^iciently large, so that the pus, after- 

 ward secreted, may escape, I think there is no danger. The danger 

 arises from imprisonment of pus by closure of the orifice in the 

 skin. In healthy subjects the orifice made through the skin will 

 often unite, in the course of a few hours ; then, should morbid mat- 

 ter accumulate within the substance of the tail, it burrows, forms 

 an abscess, or else becomes absorbed, producing locked jaw. 

 Therefore I would advise persons having pricked or nicked horses 

 under their care, to pay strict attention to such, and sec that the 

 orifices are kept open, which may easily be done by occasionally 

 inserting the point of a penknife. The skin should be the last place 

 to heal. The healing ])rocess must be perfected in the interior first, 

 and lastly the skin. Should fungus or "proud flesh" appear, apply 

 powdered blood-root, burnt alum, or red preci}>itate. 



When an abscess forms at the base of the tail after pricking, 

 apply a poultice of flaxseed; and when the tail is much inflamed 

 and swollen, it should be bathed frequently with acetic acid one 

 part, water seven parts ; mix. 



When horses are nicked in warm weather, the tail should be 

 moistened with tincture of aloes ; this will keep off the flies. 



