o5& SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 



side of the fore leg, for example, in the pastern, the hobble must 

 be taken otf and the leg secured by means of a web passed 

 round the leg above the knee, and secured to the upj)er hind 

 leg immediately above the hock, or it may be secured to the 

 iiuder fore leg; perhaps both these contrivances would be found 

 useful in strono- horses that strugole much. In firing the inside 

 of the fore leg, that is, the under fore leg, nothing more is ne- 

 cessary than to take it out of the hobble, and draw it forwards 

 by means of a web passed round the hoof or the pastern.* 



Horses, however, have sufficient power to extend even the 

 under fore leg considerably, unless a man lies on the shoulder, 

 which should always be avoided. It is better to restrain the 

 leg, by passing a web round it above the knee, and fastening 

 the other end to the hind leg above the hock. If, then, the 

 other three lea's are drawn backward, bv means of the hobble 

 rope, the under fore leg will be sufficiently exposed for any 

 operation that may be required. In firing the upper hind leg, 

 in the pastern, it is necessary to take off the hobble ; but the 

 leg must first be secured by means of a web, fastened above the 

 hock, and the other end brought forward, and, under a collar of 

 web, passed round the neck, close to the shoulder. The leg 

 may thus be effectually restrained ; but, as an additional re- 

 straint, it may be tied also to the under hind leg. 



In securing a horse for castration, he should be placed on his 

 left side; the right hind leg shovdd then have one web placed 

 above the hock, and another above the pastern ; both of these 

 webs should then be passed under the collar, and the leg drawn 

 up as far as possible, or until the hind foot is brought consider- 

 ably beyond the fore leg. Here it must be firmly secured, for 

 unless this is done, the operator will be in great danger. When 

 the upper hind leg is thus secured, the testicles will be com- 

 pletely exposed. I have found it useful, also, in this operation, 

 to make a man lie down on the horse's body, and grasp the hock 

 and hind leer with his hands : this seems to confine the lea niore 

 completely. 



Another method of hampering a horse is sometimes em- 

 ployed, but is far from being so safe or effectual as throwing 

 him down. This is termed the side line. The rope hobble is 

 buckled on one of the hind legs : the rope is then brought for- 



* Instead of tins web the cross straps are much more convenient and 

 secure ; they consist of four straps, one of which is buckled on each leg above 

 the hocks and knees, and two of them are furnished with buckles and the 

 others with straps that correspond to these buckles. Thus the legs of the 

 animal are additionally secured, and the straps can be tightened or slackened 

 as we please. AVhen it is necessary to unbuckle a hobble, as in the nerve 

 operation, and in firing the pasterns, a piece of web is slipped round the foot 

 and drawn forwards, by which means the web pulling in one dix'ection, and 

 the straps in another, the leg is straightened and secured. — Ed. 



