BLEEDING* 321 



For every minor operation, and even for many that are of more import- 

 ance, this mode of restraint is sufficient ; especially if the operator has 

 active and determined assistants : and we confess that we are no friends to 

 the castino" of horses if it can possibly be prevented. When both legs are 

 included in the hobble or rope (as in another way of using the side line), 

 the horse may appear to be more secure, but there is greater danger of his 

 falling in his violent struggles during the operation. 



For castrating and severe firing the animal must be thrown. The con- 

 struction of the hobbles is well known to every farrier, and almost to every 

 proprietor of horses. We will only say that the safety of the horse and of 

 the operator will require the use of the improved hobbles, by which any 

 leg may be released from confinement, and returned to it at pleasure; and, 

 when the operation is ended, the w^hole of the legs may be set at liberty at 

 once without danger. The method of putting the legs as closely together as 

 possible before the pull, — the necessity of the assistants all pulling together, 

 — and the power, which one man standing at the head and firmly holding 

 the snaffle bridle, and another at the haunch pushing the horse when 

 he is beginning to fall, have in bringing him on the proper side, and on the 

 very spot on which he is intended to lie, need not to be described. This 

 however, is a method of securing the horse to which we repeat that we are 

 not partial, and to which we should not resort except necessity compelled, 

 for in the act of falling, and in the struggles after falling, many accidents 

 have occm-red both to the horse and the surgeon. 



Among the minor methods of restraint, but sufficient for many purposes, 

 are the twitch and the barnacles. The former consists of a noose passed 

 through a hole at the end of a strong stick, and in which the muzzle is 

 inclosed. The stick being turned, the muzzle is securely retained, 

 while the horse suffers great pain from the pressure — sufficiently great 

 to render him comparatively inattentive to that which is produced by the 

 operation ; at the same time, he is afraid to struggle, for every motion 

 increases the agony caused by the twitch, or the assistant has power to 

 increase it by giving an additional turn to the stick. 



The barnacles are the handles of the pincers placed over and inclosing 

 the muzzle, and which, being compressed by the assistant, give pain almost 

 equal to that of the twitch. These may appear to be barbarous modes of 

 enforcing submission, but they are absolutely indispensable. In a few 

 instances, the blindfolding of the horse terrifies him into submission ; but 

 this is not to be depended upon. The twitch should be resorted to when 

 the least resistance is offered ; and when that, as it occasionally does, ren- 

 ders the horse more violent, recourse must be had to the side-line or the 

 hobbles. 



In painful examination of the fore-leg or foot while on the ground, the 

 other foot should be held up by an assistant ; or, if his aid be required in 

 an operation, the knee may be fully bent, and the pastern tied up to the 

 arm. When the hind-leg is to be examined in the same way, the fore-leg 

 on that side should be held or fastened up. 



BLEEDING. 



The operation of Bleeding has been already described (p. 179), but we 

 would remind our readers of the necessity, in every case of acute inflam- 

 mation, of making a large orifice, and abstracting the blood as rapidly as 

 possible, for the constitution will thus be the more speedily and bene- 

 ficially affected ; and also, of the propriety of never determining to take 

 a precise quantity pf blpgd, but of keeping the finger on the artery until 



