NICKING. 



587 



circular incision may then be made through the muscles 

 &c taking up by hgature such vessels, both venous and 

 arterial, as display a disposition for much hsemorrhage. 

 The section thus made, free the bone from the soft parts by 

 the scalpel, where the adherences are very mtimate ; and 

 having by means of a crucial bandage retracted the sott 

 parts altogether above the bone, saw it through. Fmally, 

 effectually secure the principal vessels, when, bringing the 

 soft parts and skin over the bone, retain them there by 

 proper bandaging, which suffer to remain without disturbance 

 until the third or fourth day. 



AMPUTATION OF THE PENIS. 



Amputation of the penis is not unknown among us : it 

 has been performed several times, and it is found that no 

 canula is necessary to keep open the urethra ; the force ot 

 the urinary flow breaking down any incipient cicatrization 

 of its orifice. The sheath is first forced back, and the penis 

 brought forward to its greatest possible extent : whatever 

 portion it is intended to remove is now cut through by 

 means of an amputating knife; when the remainder is re- 

 tracted within the sheath, and little hsemorrhage has after- 

 wards occurred, except at the time of passing the urine ; 

 but there appears to have been no alarming quantity ot 

 blood lost. 



AMPUTATION OF THE TAIL, OR DOCKING. 



We are most happy to state this filthy and unnecessary 

 operation is now discarded. It never consisted of more than 

 the cutting off a portion of the stump with brute force, and 

 the cruel appUcation afterwards of a hot iron to the small 

 artery of the tail. 



NICKING. 



We should be grateful that this barbarous and dangerous 

 process is no longer numbered among the necessary ope- 

 rations. It is so beset with accidents which no skill or 

 prudence can prevent, that no one who has a free will ought 

 to mutilate a horse by nicking. 



