122 NTcKiNa. 



the tail in his hand, and, lifting it li^, feels for the centre of 

 one of the bones — the prominences at the extremities guiding 

 him — from two to four inches from the root of the tail, accord- 

 ing to the size of the horse. He then with a sharp knife di- 

 vides the muscles deeply from the edge of the tail on one side 

 to the centre, and, continuing the incision across the bone of 

 the tail, he makes it as deep on the other side. One continued 

 incision, steadily yet rapidly made, will accomplish all this. 

 If it is a blood-horse that is operated on, this will be sufficient. 

 For a hunter, two incisions are usually made, the second being 

 about two inches below the first, and likewise as nearly as 

 possible in the centre of one of the bones. 



On a hackney, a third incision is made ; for fashion has 

 decided that his tail shall be still more elevated and curved. 

 Two incisions only are made in the tail of a mare, and the 

 second not very deep. 



When the second incision is made, some fibres of the mus- 

 cles between the first and second will project into the wound, 

 and must be removed by a pair of curved scissors. The same 

 must be done with the projecting portions from between the 

 second and third incisions. The wound should then be care- 

 fully examined, in order to ascertain that the muscles have 

 been equally divided on each side, otherwise the tail will be 

 carried awry. This being done, pieces of tow must be intro- 

 duced deeply into each incision, and confined, but not too 

 tightly, by a bar\dage. 'A very profuse bleeding only will 

 justify any tightness of bandage, and the ill consequences that 

 have resulted from nicking are mainly attributable to the un- 

 necessary force that is used in confining these pledgets of 

 tow. Even if the bleeding, immediately after the operation, 



