NEUROTOMY. ] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[DOCKma. 



leg should be suffered to rest on a bundle of 

 hay, or straw, to raise it up for the conve- 

 nience of the operator. All things being thus 

 arranged, the hair must be clipped close off 

 the part intended to be operated upon, 

 whether it be for the high or the low 

 operation. Then sponge with water; and 

 when the instrument has been used, have 

 ready the sponge in case of profuse bleeding, 

 which is sometimes the case, and is apt to 

 cause confusion, unless the blood be imme- 

 diately taken up. The pulsation of the artery 

 will now be readily recognised. Then cut 

 down a little posterior to such pulsation, but 

 still keeping the finger on the artery. When 

 a section has been made of about an inch, 

 completely through the skin, lay the knife 

 down, and open the orifice with the thuuib 

 and finger, and have it sponged, when the 

 nerve will be seen running immediately be- 

 hind the artery, perfectly white. Next intro- 

 duce the blunt-ended needle, under the nerve, 

 and draw it through as far as convenient. 

 After finely dissecting the cellular membrane 

 from the nerve, it may be divided as high up 

 as the section will admit. This will occasion a 

 violent struggle in the horse ; but dissect as 

 far down as may be thought proper, and excise 

 what quantity of nerve you like, and he will 

 make no resistance whatever. The skin should 

 be now drawn neatly together, and a stitch or 

 two placed in it; then dress as before de- 

 scribed. On removing the bandage, after the 

 first day or two, dress with compound tincture 

 of myrrh. Small pledgets of tow, dipped in 

 this mixture, and applied every day, will soon 

 make the parts heal. 



It may clearly be seen, that the motive for 

 using the nerve operation, is to relieve pain. 

 Stallions, with pumiced feet, suffer greatly 

 from pain ; and we may be sure, where such is 

 the case, it unfits them from getting healthy 

 progeny. After the nerve operation many 

 of them have proved healthy and vigorous. 

 Marcs also, which, from the same causes, have 

 ceased to feel the periodical cestrum, or incli- 

 nation for tlie horse, after the operation have 

 resumed their fecundity. The operation is, 

 therefore, not only beneficial in removing 

 lameness, but also bodily pain arising from 

 other sources ; which makes it very necessary 

 to be understood. 

 324 



DOCKING. 



Docldng is an operation performed almost 

 on all horses, excepting the racer and the cart- 

 horse ; both of which are allowed to enjoy 

 nature's gifts without any curtailing. Still, 

 we cannot but say, that from the improvement 

 which docking makes in our hackney horses, 

 it is not likely that it will fall into disuse. 

 The excessive docking, however, that some 

 horses undergo, does not add to their beauty ; 

 although some argue that a short dock 

 strengthens a horse. Eor ourselves, we are 

 no advocate for the short dock ; neither do 

 we approve of docking colts almost as soon as 

 dropped, as being at all beneficial to the future 

 growth of the animal. Early docked colts 

 will have less hair on them than at a more 

 matured age; and as the irritation occasioned 

 by docking in these young animals, makes 

 them apt to rub their tails against anything 

 they come near, it is the cause of making the 

 hair either very rough, or rubbing it off alto- 

 gether. The length of the dock must be left 

 to choice ; about nine inches is the general 

 length now-a-days. When the leugth has 

 been determined on, the long hair should be 

 fastened back from that part, while, about an 

 inch or two below, it should be shorn clear 

 away. Apply the docking-machine to this 

 part, first finding a joint, and the dock is 

 removed at one stroke. Various means have 

 been adopted to stop the bleeding ; but none 

 is equal to the actual cautery, which, if mildly 

 applied, answers every purpose without further 

 trouble. Simple as this operation may appear, 

 the old farriers were wont to make a dreadful 

 fuss over it ; and what with burning the 

 horse's tail half off, and resining it besides, it 

 became a matter of wonder that the animal 

 escaped locked-jaw, which frequently super- 

 venes on docking, and the violence used after- 

 wards. 



The bleeding scarcely ever proves fatal, and 

 seldom injurious, therefore there is little neces- 

 sity for cauterising ; but if the bleeding 

 should continue, the thiug to be done is, to 

 take a handful of flour, and, applying it to 

 the end of the dock, draw all the long hair 

 down over it, and tie as close to the dock as 

 possible. This will soon plug up the ends ot 

 the arteries, and stop the bleeding. 



