NICKING. 327 



DOCKING. 



The shortening of the tail of the horse is an operation which fashion 

 Biid the convenience of the rider require to be performed on most of those 

 animals. The length of the dock or stump, is a matter of mere caprice. 

 To the close-cropped tail of the waggon-horse, however, we decidedly 

 object, from its perfect ugliness, and because the animal is deprived of 

 every defence against the (lies. The supposition that the blood which should 

 have gone to the nourishment of the tail, causes greater development and 

 strength in the quarters, is too absurd to deserve serious refutation. Il is 

 the rump of the animal being wholly uncovered, and not partly liidden by 

 the intervention of the tail, that invariably gives a false appearance of 

 increased bulk. 



The operation is simple. That joint is searched out which is the nearest 

 to the desired length of tail. The hair is then turned up, and tied round 

 with tape for an inch or two above this joint; and tlial which lies immedi- 

 ately upon the joint is cut off. The horse is then fettered with the side- 

 line, and the veterinary surgeon with his docking machine, or the farmer 

 with his carving knife and mallet, cuts through the tail at one stroke. 

 Considerable bleeding now ensues, and frightens the timid or the ignorant; 

 but if the blood were suffered to flow on until it ceases of its own accord, 

 the colt, and especially if he were very young, would rarely be seriously 

 injured. As, however, the bleeding would occasionally continue for some 

 hours, and a great quantity of blood would be lost, and the animal would 

 be somewhat weakened, it is usual to stop the haemorrhage by the applica- 

 tion of a red-hot iron to the stump. A large hole is made in the centre of 

 the iron, that the bone may not be seared, wliich would exfoliate, if it were 

 burned with any severity, or drop ofi' at the joint above, and thus shorten 

 the dock. Tlie iron rests on the muscular parts round the bone, and is 

 brought into contact with the bleeding vessels, and very speedily stops the 

 haemorrhage. Care should be taken that the iron is not too hot, and that it 

 is not held too long or too forcibly on the part; for many more horses would 

 be destroyed by severe application of the cautery, than by the bleeomg 

 being left to its own course. Powdered resin, sprinkled on the stump, or 

 indeed any other application, is worse than useless; it causes unnecessary 

 irritation, and sometimes extensive ulceration; but if the simple iron be 

 moderately applied, the horse may go to work immediately after the opera- 

 tion, and no dressing will be afterwards required. If a slight bleeding 

 should occur after "the cautery, it is much better to let it alone, than 

 to run the risk of inflammation or locked-jaw, by re-applying the iron with 

 greater severity. 



Some farmers dock their colts a few days after they are dropped. This 

 is a commendable custom on the score of humanity ; no colt was ever lost 

 by it ; and we do not believe that the growth of the hair or the beauty of 

 the tail is in the least impaired. 



NICKING. 



This barbarous operation has been long sanctioned by fashion, and the 

 breeder and the dealer must have recourse to it, if he would obtain a ready 

 •sale for his colts. It is not, however, practised to the" extent that it used to 

 be, nor attended by so many circumstances of cruelty. 



We must here introduce a small portion of our anatomy, which we had 

 reserved lor this place. We have spoken, p. 165, of the eighteen dorsa" 



