THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 171 



seated inflammation, and if life is endangered they 

 cannot be too active. 



Cropping or Amputation of the Ears. 



Some few years ago an attempt was made to intro- 

 duce this operation generally, and make it the object 

 of taste and fashion. Reason and humanity, however, 

 triumphed, and the practice has become obsolete ex- 

 cept in some few rare cases of disease. Is it necessary 

 to make any remarks on or to expose the barbarity 

 of Cropping ? The real judge and admirer of the 

 horse must be perfectly convinced that that animal's 

 ears in their natural shape and size constitute the 

 chief beauty of the head, and that it is utterly out 

 of the power of any one to make them handsomer than 

 nature has already contrived. 



Disease might, however, render Cropping necessary, 

 but as all should be perfectly aware no part of any ani- 

 mal was made in vain, but for some wise purpose, so 

 the ears should not be cut away unless necessity deemed 

 such an operation requisite. 



Curved clams, called the cropping -irons, are called 

 into use for this purpose ; into these the ears are in- 

 troduced, and at one stroke the upper part is severed 

 from the lower, more or less, at the option of the 

 operator. As soon as cut, the skin and muscles re- 

 code considerably from the gristle of the ear ; but this 

 need not be any cause of alarm to the owner, the parts 

 wdl] heal in a few days without any particular attention 

 more than keeping them clean ; the animal must be 

 confined, and his diet should be moderate and cooling 

 until the ears are w^ell. 



The horse will often exhibit considerable shyness 



