RESTRAINTS, &C. 561 



OF SURGICAL OPERATIONS, 



AND THE VARIOUS RESTRAINTS IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO 

 PLACE THE HORSE UNDER FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE. 



When it is necessary to perform any painful operation on 

 SO powerful an animal as the horse, it is of consequence to 

 subject him to a restraint equal to the occasion. Horses 

 are very dissimilar in their tempers, and bear pain very 

 differently ; but it is always prudent to prepare for the 

 worst, and few important operations should be attempted 

 without casting. Humanity should be the fundamental 

 principle of every proceeding, and we ought always to sub- 

 ject this noble animal to pain with reluctance ; but when 

 circumstances absolutely call for it, w^e should joyfully close 

 our hearts to all necessary suffering. The resistance of 

 the horse is terrible, and it is but common prudence to 

 guard against the effects of it. The lesser restraints are 

 various : among them may be first noticed the twitch. The 

 tivitch is a very necessary instrument in a stable, though, 

 when frequently and officiously used, it may have the ill 

 effect of rendering some horses violent to resist its applica- 

 tion. In many instances blindfolding will do more than 

 the tw^itch ; and some horses may be quieted, when the 

 pain is not excessive, by holding the ear in one hand, and 

 rubbing the point of the nose with the other. A sooth- 

 ing manner will often engage the attention and prevent 

 violence ; but it is seldom that either threats or punish- 

 ment render an unruly horse more calm. Inexperienced 

 l^ersons guard themselves only against the hind legs ; but 

 they should be aware that some horses strike terribly with 

 their fore feet : it is prudent, therefore, in all operations, to 

 blindfold the animal, as by this he becomes particularly in- 

 timidated, and if he strikes he cannot aim. When one 

 of the fore extremities requires a very minute examination, 

 it is prudent to have the opposite leg held up ; it may, in 

 some cases, be tied : and when one of the hinder feet is 

 the object of attention, the fore one of the same side should 

 be held up, as by this means the animal is commonly pre- 

 vented from striking. If this precaution be not taken, still 



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