HORSE MANAGEMENT, ETC. 395 



lie third pair are termed curvators coccyx. These muscles are 

 situated on the sides of the tail, between the first and second pairs. 

 They are attached to the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebra, and to 

 the sides or transverse processes of all the bones of the tail. Their 

 action is to curve or flex the tail toward the quarter and sides, and 

 the division of one of these muscles causes permanent flexure of 

 the tail in an opposite direction. Considering the tail as a meant 

 of defense in switching off flies, etc., these muscles are the principal 

 ones called into action. t 



The fourth pair are termed compressors coccyx. They are lo- 

 cated at the sides and root of the tail, and are inserted into the 

 back part of the hip bones (ischium), and into the five first bones 

 of the tail. The action of these muscles is to maintain the tail 

 forcibly against the anus. In the mare, these muscles protect her 

 from ravishment. 



The arteries of the Tail are termed coccygeal arteries. Those lo- 

 cated at the sides are called lateral coccygeal, and the one found 

 in the lower or inferior region is called inferior coccygeal. 



Nerves of the Tail. — As with the muscles, so with the nerves. 

 There are four pairs of coccygeal nerves. They are not a con- 

 tinuation of the true spinal cord, but are given off from it. They 

 are distributed to the muscular filaments, to the skin, and at the 

 extremity of the tail. 



Docking Horses. 



All persons familiar with the old tactics of " jockeyism " and 

 the tricks of horse trade, will understand what is meant by the 

 above caption. It is a most cruel and barbarous outrage on one 

 of Nature's menials, and I feel inclined to indorse the sentiments 

 of the profound poet Tupper, when he says, " In that great day, 

 when crime is sentenced, cruel man shall not go uncondemned 

 because no complaining brute stands there accusing, for our Fa- 

 ther careth when a sparrow dies." 



Horses should never be deprived of any part of that valuable 

 weapon of defense known as the tail. It is a part and parcel of 

 the organization of the horse, and to deprive him of what Nature 

 gave him, after the fashion of " doing all things well," is an out- 

 rage which should be considered beneath the dignity of a gentle- 

 man to perpetrate. Besides the cruelty which is acknowledged 



