350 OPERATIONS. 



out ; and, by the degree of inflammation wliich they excite on the interior of the 

 vumour, stimulating it to throw out healthy granulations which gradually occupy and 

 fill the hollow. In deep fistulous wounds they are indispensable, for except some 

 channel is made through which the matter may flow from the bottom of the wound, 

 it will continue to penetrate deeper into the part, and the healing process will never 

 be accomplished. On these accounts, a seton passed through the base of the ulcer 

 in poll-evil and fistulous withers is of so much benefit, 



Selons are sometimes useful by promoting a discharge in the neighbourhood of an 

 inflamed part, and thus diverting and carrying away a portion of the fluids which dis- 

 tend or overload the vessels of that part : thus a seton is placed with considerable 

 advantage in the cheek, when the eyes are much inflamed. We confess, however 

 that we prefer a rowel under the jaw. 



With this view, and to excite a new and different inflammation in the neighbour- 

 hood of a part already inflamed, and especially so deeply seated and so difficult to be 

 reached as the navicular joint, a seton has occasionally been used with manifest ben- 

 efit, but we must peremptorily object to the indiscriminate use of the frog-setoa for 

 almost every disease of the frog or the foot. 



In inflammations of extensive organs, setons afford only feeble aid. Their action 

 is too circumscribed. In inflammation of the chest or the intestines, a rowel is pre- 

 ferable to a seton ; and a blister is far better than either of them. 



On the principle of exciting the absorbents to action for the removal of tumours, as 

 spavin or splent, a blister is quicker in its action, and far more effectual than any se- 

 ton. Firing is still more useful. 



DOCKING. 



The shortening of the tail of the horse is an operation which fashion and the 

 convenience of the rider require to be performed on most of these animals. The 

 length of the dock, or stump, is a matter of mere caprice. To the close-cropped 

 tail of the wagon-horse, however, we decidedly object, from its perfect ugliness, 

 and because the animal is deprived of every defence against a thousand tortures. 

 The supposition that the blood which would have gone to the nourishment of the 

 tail, causes greater development and strength in the quarters, is too absurd to de- 

 serve serious refutation. It is the rump of the animal being wholly uncovered, and 

 not partly hidden by the intervention of the tail, that gives a false appearance of in- 

 creased bulk. 



The operation is simple. That joint is searched for which is the nearest to the 

 desired length of tail. The hair is then turned up, and tied round with tape for an 

 inch or two above this joint; and that which lies immediately upon the joint is cut 

 off. The horse is fettered with the side-line, and then the veterinary surgeon Avith 

 his docking-machine, or the farmer with his carving-knife and mallet, cuts through 

 the tail at one stroke. Considerable bleeding ensues, and frightens the timid and 

 the ignorant; but if the blood were suffered to flow on until it ceased of its own 

 accord, the colt, and especially if he were very young, would rarely be seriously 

 injured. As, however, the bleeding would occasionally continue for some hours, 

 and a great quantity of blood might be lost, and the animal might be somewhat 

 weakened, it is usual to stop the hemorrhage by the application of a red-hot iron 

 to the stump. A large hole is made in the centre of the iron, that the bone may not 

 be seared, which would exfoliate if it were burned with any severity, or drop off at 

 the joint above, and thus shorten the dock. The iron rests on the muscular parts 

 round the bone, and is brought into contact with the bleeding vessels, and very 

 speedily stops the hannorrhage. Care should be taken that the iron is not too hot, — 

 and that it is not held too long or too forcibly on the part, for many more horses would 

 be destroyed by severe application of the cautery, than by the bleeding being left to 

 its own course. 



Powdered resin sprinkled on the stump, or indeed any other application, is worse 

 than useless. It causes unnecessary irritation, and sometimes extensive ulceration ; 

 but if the simple iron is moderately applied, the horse may go to work immediately 

 after the operation, and no dressing will be afterwards required. If a slight bleeding 

 should occur after the cautery, it is much better to let it alone than to run the risk of 

 inflammation or locked-jaw, by re-applying the iron with greater severity. 



Some farmers dock their colts a few days after they are dropped. This is a com- 



