Nicking ^/HORSES. '327 



The art of nicking horfes then chiefly The ope- 

 confifts in a tranfvcrfe divifion of thefe ^^^^^ion^^e- 

 depreffing tendons of the tail, and fuch "^^ 

 a pofition afterwards, as will keep their 

 extremities from coming again into con- 

 tads fo that an intervening callus fills 

 up the vacuity : by thefe means an ad- 

 ditional power is given to the antagonifl 

 mufcles, 1.72;. the elevators •, the counter- 

 a6lion of the depreflers being manifeftly 

 abated by the divifion of the tendons, and 

 the intervention of the callus. 



The ufual method of fupportlng the xhe In- 

 tail by a pulley and weight, is liable toconvcni- 

 many exceptions, the extremities of the encies of 

 divided tendons not being by that me- ° , 

 thod kept fufficiently afunder; the fitu- 

 ation of the tail being rather inclined to 

 a perpendicular, than a curved diredlion ; 

 this pofition too is liable to many varia- 

 tions, from the difiTerent movements of 

 the horfe, and is the reafon that the tail 

 frequently inclines to one fide; as the 

 nick may heal up fafl:er on one fide than 

 the other-, the difagreeable fituation the 

 horfe muft (land in, with a weight con- 

 ftantly hanging to his tail, is another 

 material objedion, befides the necefilty 



Y 4 of 



