554 CYCLOPEDIA Ot LJVI. STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



all to pieces, either from the tendon giving way, or else by suppuration 

 from a nail wound or corn, extending all around the foot. After neuro- 

 tomy, it is necessary to be doubly careful in shoeing and taking care of the 

 feet, to avoid the pricks of nails, corns, etc. , and, should these occur, to treat 

 them at once, lest bad complications ensue. Some horses work well for 

 four or five years after neurotomy, and some go to pieces in a few months. 



XII. Nicking- and Docking. 



Nicking and pricking are identical in efiect, viz: to straighten crooked 

 tails. When a horse hugs his tail, it is sometimes necessary to sever the 

 depressor muscles on the under side, and suspend the tail over a pulley, for 

 two or three weeks. Insert the knife about two inches from the dock, on 

 the under side at one side of the tail ; pass it in across the tail to within a 

 quarter of an inch of the center, to avoid the large artery running down 

 the under side in the middle, holding it flatwise — on its side; then turn up 

 the edge towards the bone, and, Avith a sawing motion, sever the muscle 

 clear to the bone. Withdraw the knife, leaving only the smail wound 

 through which the knife entered. Tie the tail to a rope running over 

 two pulleys; the tail being tied to a loop of it running down from each 

 pulley, the ends passing over them should reach to the floor, with a weight 

 attached to each end, so as to allow him to lie down. Keep the tail sus- 

 pended in this way from two to three weeks. 



In case the tail is crooked or twisted to one side, insert the knife in a 

 perpendicular position from below upwards, just under the skin; turn the 

 edge towards the tail, and saw through the muscle; then tie the tail around 

 to the opposite side for a couple of weeks. It is often necessary to cut in 

 two or three places. If the cuts suppurate, dress them with lotion No. 39. 

 If the first operation fails, try it again. 



Docking is amputating a portion of the tail, bone and all, to pander to 

 the taste or whim of the owner. It is best done with a pair of docking 

 shears made for the purpose. It is usually taken oflf from eight to ten 

 inches from the beginning of the long hair at the dock. Part the hair 

 evenly all the Avay round; fold that of the ui)i)er })ortion upward and tie a 

 strong cord tightly around the tail, including the hair, two inches above 

 the part. Hold the tail straight out and cut it ott" at the part. Scar the 

 end with a red-hot iron to prevent hemorrhage; then put a bunch of oakum, 

 the size of a fist, onto the end, pull the hair down over it, after removing 

 the cord, tie it around the hair tightly below the oakum. Begin next day 

 to apply lotion No. 5, several times a day for ten days, then apply No. 7. 

 If the horse carried a good tail before docking, a week will l)e long enough 

 to leave him in the pulleys, and he can be put to work; but if he carried 

 a poor tail, keep it suspended two or three weeks. Oftentimes it is neces- 



