NICKING. 329 



sooner ; and it unquestionably affects the foal less at this 

 period than at the age of two years. 



The manner of performing the operation is to fix upon 

 a part of the tail, and having determined on that, take the 

 one next joint to it ; let the hair be turned up a.nd fastened 

 with tape for an inch or two above the joint, while that which 

 grows upon the vertebra itself must be cut off. The horse 

 is then restrained by the side line, and the surgeon now 

 applies his docking machine, and cuts it through at the 

 division between the vertebrae at one stroke. It is not 

 uncommon for farmers and other breeders to perform the 

 operation with a sharp knife, resting the tail on a board, 

 and striking the back of the knife with a mallet or hammer. 

 Although considerable bleeding is caused by this operation, 

 there is no danger to be apprehended from it. To stop this 

 in the speediest manner is to sere the stump with a red-hot 

 iron, with a hole in its centre to prevent it from touching 

 the bone, which would cause exfoliation ; or, if severely 

 injured, it would fall off at the joint above, and thus shorten 

 the desired length of the tail. The bleeding vessels are all 

 on the outside of the bone. The iron must not be too hot, 

 nor much pressure applied to it, neither should it be long 

 continued. No kind of dressing is required after this 

 operation. In some cases slight bleeding occurs after the 

 use of the cautery ; but when this occurs, it is better to 

 allow it to stop of its own accord, as a repetition of the 

 burning might cause locked-jaw, or constitutional irritation. 



NICKING. 



It is to be lamented that fashion has long held a sway in 

 promoting and maintaining this cruel operation, even in its 

 simplest form. However, of late, public taste has materially 

 improved in this respect, for the fashion at the present day 



2u 



