562 CASTING. 



observe to keep one hand on the hock, while the other is 

 employed in what is necessary ; by which means, if the foot 

 become elevated to kick, sufficient warning is given, and 

 the very action of the horse throws the operator away from 

 the stroke. Without the use of these arts the practitioner 

 will expose himself to much risk. The ti-evis is the very 

 utmost limit of restraint, and is seldom used save by smiths, 

 to shoe very violent and powerful horses : whenever re- 

 course is had to it, the greatest caution is necessary to bed 

 and bolster all the parts that are likely to come in contact 

 with the body. On the Continent we have seen horses shod 

 in this machine, and apparently put into it from no neces- 

 sity greater, than to prevent the clothes of the smith from 

 being dirtied. Horses have been destroyed by the trevis, 

 as w^ell as by casting ; or their aversion to the restraint has 

 been such, they have died from the consequences of their 

 own resistance. The side-line is now very generally used, 

 not only in minor operations, but also in those more im- 

 portant. Many veterinarians do not use any other re- 

 straint than this, in which they consider there is safety both 

 to the horse and to the operator. It is applicable to such 

 horses as are disposed to strike behind ; and consists in 

 placing a hobble strap around the pastern of one hind leg, 

 and then carrying from a web collar passed over the head 

 the end of a rope through the D of the hobble, and back 

 again under the webbing round the neck. A man is then 

 set to pull at the free end of the rope, by which the hinder 

 leg is drawn forward without elevating it from the ground. 

 By this displacement of one leg the horse is effectually 

 secured from kicking with either. Occasionally it is thus 

 applied : — hobbles are put on both hind legs, and the rope 

 is passed through each of the rings. According to this 

 last method, the horse is actually cast, as he must fall w^hen 

 the ropes are pulled. Take a long rope, and tie a loop in 

 the middle, which is to be of such a size as it may serve for 

 a collar ; pass the loop over the head, letting the knot rest 

 upon the withers ; then take the free ends, pass them 

 through the hobbles, and bring it under the loop. Let two 

 men pull at the ropes, and the hind legs will be drawn 

 forward. 



Casting. — The objections to this practice arise from the 



