NICKING. 



123 



should have been very great, the roller must be loosened in two 

 or three hours, otherwise swelling and inflammation, and even 

 death, may possibly ensue. Twenty-four hours after the ope- 

 ration, the bandage must be quite removed ; and then all that 

 is necessary, so far as the healing of the incisions is concerned, 

 is to keep them clean. 



The wounds must remain open ; and this can only be accom- 

 plished by forci- 



bly keeping the ^^^^^^^^^^P| 

 tail curved back 

 during two or 

 three weeks. For 

 this purpose, a 

 cord, one or two 

 feet in length, is 

 aflSxed to the end 

 of the hair, which 



terminates in an- the usual method. 



other divided cord, each division going over a pulley on each 

 side of the back of the stall. A weight is hung at each ex- 

 tremity, sufiBcient to keep the incisions properly open, and 

 regulated by the degree in which this is wished to be accom* 

 plished. The animal will thus be retained in an uneasy posi- 

 tion, although, after tlie first two or three days, probably not 

 of acute pain. It is barbarous to increase this uneasiness or 

 pain by affixing too great a weight to the coftls ; for it shoul(^ 

 be remembered that the proper elevated curve is given to the 

 tail, not by the weight's keeping it in a certain position for a 

 considerable time, but by the depth of the first incisions, and 

 the degree in which the wounds are kept open. 



