ON DOCKINC. 235 



p. 123), may be given for several days before he 

 is cut. 



If the swelling and inflammation about the part 

 are considerable, give him the drink (No. 126, 

 p. 163), as there directed; and gently rub the 

 part with digestive oils (No. 119, p. 157), or the 

 ointment (No. 125, p. 162). In some cases it may 

 be necessary to foment the swelling with the fomen- 

 tation (No. 123, p. 161), before the oils, or oint- 

 ment, are rubbed on. By these methods the horse 

 will be preserved from that danger which so fre- 

 quently happens in operations of this kind. 



CHAP. LVII. 



DOCKING. 



Docking or cutting off a horse's tail, is an 

 operation almost universally known, and is seldom 

 attended with any danger. The operation is best 

 performed with an engine, used for that purpose 

 by most farriers. After the tail is taken off, let 

 the part be gently seared with a hot iron till the 

 blood is stopped, then cover the part with powdered 

 resin, and touch it with the hot iron till it dissolves 

 and runs all over the end of the stump. 



