14 OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE. 



and drawn tight, the end proceeding from the right side is carried 

 towards the left ear, that from the left side towards the right ear, and 

 the two fastened firmly behind the head. 



In some operations on horses it is sufficient ii the ears are grasped by 

 a couple of powerful assistants and the head drawn forcibly downwards. 

 This does not completely insure the operator's safety, but it checks 

 attempts at rearing and striking with the front feet. This method of 

 drawing down the head is certainly better than fastening the animal to 

 a fixed object, though in cattle the best available means often is to fix 

 a rope around the horns and attach it to a strong ring or post. 



Fig. 26. — Fastening the fore and hind pasterns together as a means of restraint. 



Another means of restraint is to lift a fore or hind foot, preferably 

 on the side on which the operator stands ; care must be taken, however, 

 not to raise the limb so high as to give pain and cause the animal to 

 rear. A fore- foot may also be raised and kept in position by passing 

 a cord around the pastern and over the withers, in which position it 

 is held by an assistant. This plan is preferable to that next shown, 

 viz. of fixing the pastern to the forearm by means of a rope or strap. 

 In this case a small bundle of straw is often thrust into the flexure of 

 the knee to prevent the cord slipping off. As, however, the horse 

 is apt to lose its balance, a serious fall sometimes results. 



