122 ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOEING. 



inequality will be discovered, which in the dry state would 

 be readily passed over. When the thorn is found, it may be 

 extracted with a pair of tweezers; or sometimes it may be 

 necessarj^ to slit the skin up for a short distance, in order 

 to reach the butt-end of the thorn, which should be re- 

 moved entire if possible. 



CASTRATION, 



Is the operation of removing- the testicles of the horse, and 

 is now performed with g-reat dexterity by our best veterin- 

 ary^ surg-eons, and with ver^^ little risk to the colt. It 

 should, however, never be attempted by any one but the 

 above gentlemen ; and I shall not occupy space here by a 

 description of the operation. It is g-enerallj' performed 

 upon the colt at or soon after weaning-- time ; but in many 

 cases, when the head and neck are sufficiently- developed, it 

 should be deferred to the spring- of the second year. 



RUPTURES. 



Ruptures at the Navel are cured by passing- a strong pin 

 through the skin, and then winding some cord round it, so 

 as to produce inflammation and obliteration of the passage. 

 But this should always be left to the reg-ular practitioner. 



NERVING. 



Nerving is an operation done upon the nei-ves of the feet, 

 by which they are divided, and thus those organs are ren- 

 dered for the time insensible to pain. It is easily done by 



