VETERINARY OPERATIONS. 241 



^atigued, and young unfurnished horses cut at youthful periods and 

 2row out of it afterwards. The part in which a foot interferes with 

 the opposed limb is very different. When it strikes the shank high 

 up it is called speedy-cut, and is best remedied by wearing knee 

 boots or rollers. When it is at the fetlock the cutting is at the side, 

 or rather backward, according to circumstances. Some horses cut 

 by the side of the shoe, others by the hoof at the quarters ; and some 

 by the point of the heels. It is to be remarked, that it is better to 

 put up with the evil of cutting, than to do as is too frequently done, 

 which is, to pare away the hoof until it excites contraction. The 

 shoe may be feather edged, or may be set a little within the cutting 

 quarter ; but by no means alter the size or form of the hoofs them- 

 selves, and particularly avoid taking liberties of this kind with the 

 fore feet. Boots or rollers, are but little trouble to put on, and 

 when not buckled too tight never injure : whereas to allow a horse 

 to continue to cut produces a callus, and often throws the animal 

 down. 



VETERINARY OPERATIONS. 



109. The general practises to be here enumerated 

 are chiefly the treatment of wounds, the application of 

 fomentations, setons, blisters, clysters, and physicking, 

 and the operation of castrating, nicking, bleeding, &c. 



Treatment of Wounds. 



110. A wound must be treated in some measure according to the 

 part of the horse's body in which it happens : but there are some 

 principles to be observed alike in all horse surgery. There are 

 likewise a few, which, as they differ from the principles of human 

 surgery, should be first noticed, and which should guide the prae- 

 tice of those who might be misled by analogy. The wounds ot 

 horses, however carefully brought together and confined in their 

 situation, as well as shut out from the stimulus of the external air, 

 are seldom disposed to unite at once, or as it is called in surgical 

 language, by the first intention. It is always, therefore, necessary 

 to expect the suppurative process ; but as the adhesive inflammation 



