NICKING 55 



apart, and about the same distance from the stable 

 floor, over each side of the stall, and firmly fastened 

 to the wall ; a smooth and small cord is then to be 

 passed through each of the pulleys, and to each end 

 must be confined two equal weights, as figure 10 ; the 

 halter should be constructed and fastened as figure 11 ; 

 the trough should be securely fastened to the stall or 

 wall, to prevent its being pulled down, (figure 8,) 

 the stall should be three or three and an half feet 

 wide, and not deep enough to allow a horse to rub and 

 disfigure his tail, as figure 9. 



2d. The horse should be confined, as figures 5, 6, 

 and 3, and the tail closely and neatly platted up and 

 clubbed at the end, or turned over a small stick, and 

 securely tied with a waxed string, as figures 7 and 4. 



3d. Being provided with a sharp knife and a crook- 

 ed piece of buck's horn, and the tail being turned up 

 by a strong arm, in a direct line with the back bone, 

 as before mentioned, commence the operation by mak- 

 ing a transverse incision, immediately across the tail, 

 one and a half inches from the root, and deep enough 

 to separate entirely the tendons on each side of the 

 under part of the tail, which will be found about a 

 quarter of an inch from the hair on the outer edge ; 

 this incision in the middle may be shallow. The large 

 arteries lie so immediately under the tendons, that they 

 are often wounded or separated in performing this 

 operation, which will be a great advantage in the 

 healing of the wounds, instead of doing injury by the 

 loss of blood. But whenever a horse may have bled 

 from one to two gallons, the bleeding will readily stop 

 by placing the tail in pulleys, or by applying a small 

 quantity of flour and salt to the wound, and wrap the 

 tail up moderately tight with a linen rag, from the 

 root to the end. 

 6* 



