391 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERr. 



to b . identified with the operation, there are other reasons, on the 

 grounds of physiology, why the tail should be left entire, espe- 

 cially in the case of a mare; but, as the reader is probably con- 

 versant with the facts in the case, I shall not enter into a discussion 

 of the same, but prefer to introduce the following paragraph* 

 written by a person who aims at reform: 



" I am glad that the abominable practice of docking and nick- 

 ing horses is going out of fashion. It prevails in no country in 

 the world besides England and the United States. We got it 

 from the mother country, and the sooner we leave it off the bet- 

 ter. It is wonderful how any body but an ignorant, narrow- 

 minded blockhead of a jockey should ever have thought of it 

 being as offensive to good taste as it is a violation of every hu- 

 mane feeling. Has Nature done her work in such a bungling 

 manner in forming that paragon of animals, the horse, that a large 

 piece of bone should be chopped off with an ax to reduce him to 

 symmetry, or that beauty and grace can be obtained only by cut- 

 ting a pair of his large muscles? 'The docking and nicking of 

 horses,' says an intelligent writer on farriery, ' is a shockingly cruel 

 practice, and ought to be abandoned by the whole race of mankind. 

 Every human being, possessed of feeling and a magnanimous 

 mind, must confess that it is cruel and entirely uncalled for; but 

 that creature called man attempts thus to mend the works of his 

 almighty, wise Creator, in doing which he often spoils and dis- 

 figures them. What is more beautiful than a fine horse, with an 

 elegant, long tail and a flowing mane waving in the sports of the 

 wind, and exhibiting itself in a perfect state of nature? Besides, 

 our Creator has given them for defense as well as beauty.' The 

 same author relates an instance of a fine hunting horse, owned by 

 an Englishman, which would carry its rider over the highest five- 

 barred gate with ease ; but he thought that the horse did not carry 

 as good a tail as he wished; he therefore had him nicked, and 

 when the horse got well, he could scarcely carry over two bare. 

 i Thus,' said he, ' I have spoiled a fine horse ; and no wonder, foi 

 it weakened his loins.' Any man of common sense would give 

 ten per cent, more for a fine horse whose tail had never been 

 mutilated, than for one which had been under the hands of a 

 jockey.'* 



