SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 24] 



By this displacement of one leg the horse is effectually secured 

 from kicking with either. Occasionally it is thus applied : hobble*, 

 are put on both hind legs, and the rope is passed through each of 

 the rings. According to this last method, the horse 3 actually 

 cast, as he must fall when the ropes are pulled. Take a *ong rope, 

 and tie a loop in the middle, which is to be of such a size as it may 

 serve for a collar ; pass the loop over the head, letting the knot rest 

 upon the withers ; then take the free ends, pass them through the 

 hobbles, and bring it under the loop. Let two men pull at the 

 ropes, and the hind legs will be drawn forward. 



Casting. 



The objections to this practice arise from the dangcra incurred 

 by forcing the horse to the ground. Mr. Bracy Clark simplified 

 easting by inventing some patent hobbies, having a running chain 

 instead of rope, and which, by a shifting D, made the loosening of 

 all the hobbles, for the purpose of getting at a particular leg, 

 unnecessary. These were still further improved by Mr. Budd, so 

 as to render a release from all the hobbles at once practicable. 

 Hobble leathers and ropes should be kept supple and' pliant with 

 oil, and ought to be always examined previous to using ; nor should 

 the D or ring of the strap be of any other nietfll than iron. Brass, 

 however thick, is brittle, and not to be depended on. To the D 

 ring, or ring of one pastern hobble, a chain of about four feet long 

 is attached ; to this a strong rope is well fastened, and, according to 

 the way the horse is to be thrown, this hobble is to be fixed on the 

 fore-foot of the contrary side. The rope is then passed from the 

 hobble on the fore-foot to the D of the hind foot of that side, then 

 to the other hind foot, and, lastly, through the D of the other fore- 

 foot. After this, much of the ease and safety of the throw depends 

 on bringing the legs as near together as possible. This should be 

 done by gradually moving them nearer to each other, without 

 alarming the horse, which will very much facilitate the business, 

 and is really of more moment than is generally imagined. A space 

 sufficiently large should be chosen for the purpose of casting, as 

 some horses struggle much, and throw themselves with great vio- 

 lence a considerable way to one side or the other; and they are 

 able to do this if the feet have not been brought near together pre- 

 vious to attempting the cast. The place should be also very well 

 lfi 



