CHAPTER XIV. 



FARRIERY, ETC. 



DEFINITION OP FARRIERY — CASTRATION — ^DOCKING AND NICKING— BLOOD- 

 LETTING— TREATMENT OP STRAINS AND WOUNDS — GALLS OP THE SKIN — 



CRACKED HEEfiS— CLIPPING AND SINGEING ADMrNISTERLN"*G MEDICINES — 



DISEASES OP THE PEET. 



By larrierj we generally understand the performance of 

 those common operations which do not require the aid of 

 a Veterinary Surgeon, but may be practiced, with pretty 

 good success, by men of practical experience, who have 

 little or no scientific knowledge of the anatomy and phys- 

 iology of the horse. It is true that yerj many, if not all 

 of these, would be performed much better by a skilled 

 Veterinary Surgeon, but they are of such a character that 

 his services are not absolutely essential. These operations 

 are chiefly such as affect only the external parts and organs 

 of the animal ; and they may be safely entrusted to any 

 person, who has had a fair amount of experience in the 

 management of sick horse-flesh. It is to be premised, 

 however, that very few of those smiths on whose signs 

 there appears, " Horse Shoer and Farrier ^''^ are better than 

 quacks into whose hands it would not be safe to place the 

 control of the simplest case. 



As a general rule, ever}?' horse owner should, if possi- 

 ble, appeal only to skilled veterinary surgeon?, for any 

 surgical operation, no matter how trifling, of Avhich his 

 horse may stand in need. Where he has to depend on the 

 services of an uneducated country farrier, he should take 

 pains to inform himself, as far as lies in his power, of all 



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