BESTUAINTS.] 



MODEEN VETERIXAllY PRACTICE. 



[UEiXUAlXia. 



qupiitly, great care is required in usinj; it. To 

 make a twitch, the stall" should bo about thirty- 

 six or thirty-eight ineliea long, with a Binall 

 ring-bolt driveu firm into one end; then a 

 piece of sash-line should be put through the 

 eye of the bolt, and the ends tied together, 

 about six inches from the end of the bolt. 

 This completes the twitch. 



Most persons, and especially the inexperi- 

 enced, guard only against the hind feet; but 

 they will find that a blow from a horse's fore 

 foot, if properly directed, will como with ter- 

 rible force. In all operations, there foro, it is 

 best to blindfold the animal, as by so doing he 

 becomes greatly intimidated ; nor will he often 

 strike without being much irritated. 



Another kind of instrument, principally 

 used by smiths, is what are termed harnacles, 

 ■vrhich is a kind of clam, with a gaugiug-ring 

 to regulate its tightness, and is sometimes ap- 

 plied to the horse's ear at the time of shoeing. 

 It is, we believe, at times used for the nose ; 

 but not unless the animal is first blindfolded. 

 Sometimes all can be done that may be 

 wanted, by an assistant holding up the oppo- 

 site leg. With regard to holding up the hind 

 leg, one hand should always have a fast hold 

 of the point of the hock. The horse cannot 

 move then without giving warning ; and should 

 he feel inclined to kick, you will be enabled to 

 get from him without danger. It is highly neces- 

 sary that these precautions should be attended 

 to, for two reasons ; the one, to prevent any 

 accidents that tlie operator may be liable to; 

 and the other, that he may not be suspected, 

 by those around him, of not knowing his 

 business. 



There is another restraint, called the side- 

 line ; and though very simple in its nature, of 

 great use, and now in very general application. 

 Many veterinarians use only the side-line, con- 

 sidering it to be quite sufficient both for the 

 safety of the man and the horse ; but, if the 

 animal makes a sudden plunge, it is ten to one 

 that he comes down altogether. It consists of 

 a hobble-strap, and about six or seven yards of 

 rope, nearly the thickness of a man's thumb, 

 and is termed a neck-collar. To make use 

 of the side-line properly, a roller, made on pur- 

 pose, should be used. It should have several 

 rings on the pad part, both on the sides and 

 top, to answer convenience. All things being 



ready, put on this, and then slip the neck* 

 cuUar on, down to the horso'a shoulder, and 

 strap the neck-collar to a ring of the roller. 

 By this means, if the horse should by chance 

 hold down his head, the side-line will not get 

 shifted (which it would do, if fastened round 

 the neck alone). Now buckle the side-line on 

 to the fetlock, on the side on which you are to 

 stand ; pass the line or ropo through the horse's 

 legs, and through the neck-collar, taking it 

 back, after giving it one turn round the collar, 

 to the fetlock. Do the same there ; then bring 

 it back again to the collar, where make 

 fast. After this confinement, anytiiing may 

 be done with the horse on the side on which 

 the line is. 



Hobbles are used when a horse is to be cast ; 

 and then one hobble-leather is placed on each 

 fetlock, each leather having what is termed a 

 D ring attached to it ; one ring and leather 

 being fastened to a long rope, very supple, but 

 strong, and about an inch and a quarter in dia- 

 meter. In putting on tJio hobble, observe 

 which side you want to cast on. If it be on 

 the olf-side, place the rope-hobble on the near 

 fore fetlock, then buckle the three others on, 

 and, taking the end of the rope, hand it to an 

 assistant to thread the ofi'-fore-foot D ring. 

 Let him pass the rope to the ofi'-hiud hobble- 

 ring, when you will receive it, and pass it 

 through the ring of the hind hobble of your 

 side. After this, carry the rope up to the near 

 fore foot again, and put it through the ring 

 there ; which ring must be considerably larger 

 than any other, because there is double the 

 quantity of rope in it. All this time the horse 

 should be blindfolded. Having your proper 

 strength ready, desire them to pull steady, and 

 together; then you will place your hand against 

 the horse's ribs, at the same time pushing him, 

 when he goes down easily. There is a plan 

 used at the Eoyal Veterinary College, of one 

 person having a piece of webbing fastened to 

 the roller, who stands at the opposite side, and 

 gives a smart pull, just as the horse is otf his 

 legs, which quickly brings him over. By fol- 

 lowing the above directions, the horse may bo 

 said to be rather let down than cast or thrown. 



The moment the horse is thrown, the rope 

 must be fastened with what is termed a half- 

 hitch, in which a small pad of straw is inserted, 

 and by which means the rope is drawn much 



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