CASTRATION. 457 



tlie head and firmly holding the snafHe-bridle, and another at the haunch 

 pushing the horse when he is beginning to fall, have in bringing him on 

 the proper side, and on the very spot on which he is intended to lie, need 

 not to be described ; but a Tuach preferable plan to having a man at the 

 haunch is to have a roller round the body, with a rope attached to a ring- 

 on the top of it, by puUing this rope in the opposite direction at the same 

 moment as the hobbles are tightened, the side on which he falls is a mat- 

 ter of certainty. This, however, is a method of securing the horse to 

 which we repeat that we are not partial, and to which we should not 

 resort except necessity compelled ; for in the act of falling, and in the 

 struggles after fallrng, many accidents have occurred both to the horse 

 and the surgeon. 



Among the minor methods of restraint, but sufficient for many purposes, 

 are the tivitch and the harnades. The former consists of a noose passed 

 through a hole at the end of a strong stick, and in which the muzzle is 

 enclosed. The stick being turned round, the muzzle is securely retained, 

 while the horse su.fiers considerable pain from the pressure — sufficiently 

 great, indeed, to render hmi comparatively inattentive to that which is 

 produced by the operation ; at the same time he is afraid to struggle, for 

 every motion increases the agony caused by the twitch, or the assistant has 

 power to increase it by giving an additional turn to the stick. 



The degree of pain produced by the application of the twitch should 

 never be forgotten or unnecessarily increased. In no case should it be 

 resorted to when milder measures would have the desired eflfect. Grooms 

 and horsekeepers are too much in the habit of having recourse to it when 

 they have a somewhat troublesome horse to manage. The degree of useless 

 torture which is thus inflicted in large establishments is dreadful ; and the 

 temper of many a horse is too frequently coni23letely spoiled. 



The harnades are the handles of the pincers placed over and enclosing 

 the muzzle, and which, being compressed by the assistant, give pain almost 

 equal to that of the twitch. These may appear to be barbarous modes of 

 enforcing submission, but they are absolutely indispensable. In a few 

 instances the blindfolding of the horse terrifies him into submission ; but 

 this is not to be depended upon. The twitch should be resorted to when 

 the least resistance is offered ; and when that, as it occasionally does, 

 renders the horse more violent, recourse must be had to the side-line or 

 the hobbles. 



In the painful examination of the fore-leg or foot while on the ground, 

 the other foot should be held up by an assistant ; or, if his aid is required 

 in an operation, the knee may be fully bent, and the pastern tied up to the 

 arm. When the hind-leg is to be examined in the same way, the fore-leg 

 on that side should be held or fiistened up. 



CASTEATION. 



The period at which this operation may be best performed depends 

 much on the breed and form of the colt, and the purpose for which he is 

 destined. 



If the horse is designed either for the carriage or for heavy draught, the 

 farmer should not think of castrating him until he is at least a twelve- 

 month old ; and, even then, the colt should be carefully examined. If he 

 is thin and spare about the neck and shoulders, and low in the withers, he 

 will materially improve by remaining uncut another six months ; but if 

 his fore-quarters are fairly developed at the age of a twelve-month, the 

 operation should not be delayed, lest he become heavy and gross before, 

 and perhaps has begun too decidedly to have a will of his own. No 

 specific age, then, can be fixed ; but the castration should be performed 



