320 THE HORSE. 



the contraction and swelling of the felt or leather from the effect of 

 moisture or dryness will soon render the attachment of the shoe less firm ; 

 there will be too much play upon the nails ; the nail-holes will enlarge, 

 and the crust will be broken away. 



After wounds or extensive bruises of the sole, or where the sole is thin 

 and flat and tender, it is sometimes covered with a piece of leather, fitted 

 to the sole, and nailed on with the shoe. This may be allowed as a tem- 

 porary defence of the foot; but there is the same objection to its permanent 

 use from the insecurity of fastening, and the strain on the crust, and the 

 frequent chipping of it: and there are these additional inconveniences, that 

 if the hollow between the sole and the leather be filled with stopping and 

 tow, it is exceedingly difficult to introduce them so evenly and accurately 

 as not to produce some partial or injurious pressure — that a few days' work 

 will almost invariably so derange the padding as to produce partial pres- 

 sure — that the long contact of the sole with stopping of almost every kind 

 will produce, not a healthy, elastic horn, but horn of a scaly, spongy 

 nature — and that if the hollow be not thus filled, gravel and dirt will insi- 

 nuate themselves, and cause unequal pressure, and eat into and injure the 

 foot. 



Chapter XVIII. 



OPERATIONS. 



These belong more to the veterinary-surgeon than to the proprietor of the 

 horse, but a short account of the manner of conducting the principal ones 

 should not be omitted. 



It is frequently necessary to bind the human patient, and in no painful 

 or dangerous operation should this preliminary be omitted. It is more 

 necessary to bind the horse, who is not under the control of reason, and 

 whose struggles may not only be injurious to himself but dangerous to the 

 operator. 



The trevis is a machine indispensable in every continental forge ; even 

 the quietest horses are there put into it to be shod. It is found in many of 

 our country forges, and is occupied by horses that cannot otherwise be shod 

 without manifest danger to the smith. It seldom, however, finds a place 

 in our improved forges, although it would be useful for docking, firing, 

 and many other purposes. The horse is confined within enormous bars of 

 wood, and slung there, but many have been destroyed in their determined 

 resistance to such restraint. 



The side-line is a very simple and useful method of confining the horse, 

 and places him in sufficient subjection for the operations of docking, 

 nicking, and slight firing. The long line of the hobbles, or a common cart- 

 rope with a noose at the end, is fastened on the pastern of one hind-leg. 

 Tiie rope is then brought over the neck and round the withers, and there 

 tied to the portion that comes from the leg. The le^; may thus be drawn 

 so far forward, that while the horse evidently cannot kick with that leg, he 

 is disarmed of the other ; for he would not have sufficient support under him 

 if he attempted to raise it. Neither can he easily use his fore-legs, or, if 

 he attempts to use them, one of them may be lifted up, when he becomes 

 nearly powerless. If necessary, the aid of the twitch or tlie barnacles may 

 be resorted to. 



