' DOCKING.' 269 



was recently obtained and a fine inflicted for docking 

 a tail under circumstances of great cruelty, the 

 operation taking nearly half an hour in all, and the 

 irons having to be heated three times before the 

 bleeding could be stanched. Was not that revolting 

 barbarity ? and who is to say that such cases do not 

 frequently occur, and that in a greater or less degree 

 they must occur so long as the custom prevails ? 



' I am informed — all credit to the humane person 

 who so ordered — that by a recent regulation re- 

 mounts for the cavalry are rejected if thus maimed. 

 Might not this principle be extended, and all docking 

 (except in case of disease or deformity) be considered 

 to come under the term of cruelty in a legal sense, 

 and therefore punishable by law ? I am anxious to 

 do what is right, and remain, Sir, your obedient 



servant, 



* A Puzzled J.P. 



1 February 2, 1884.' 



The regulation to which the puzzled J.P. refers 

 has recently been repeated, September 12, 1884, and 

 is as follows : — 



* DOCKING HORSES. 



'As it has been brought to notice that in the 

 mounted service the regulations in regard to the 

 length of horses' tails are not observed, and as horses 



