638 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



Operations. 



Backraking 



is the act of unloading the back part of the intestines. It is 

 chiefly resorted to when the horse has been given physic without 

 having been previously put on mash diet, and for unloading the 

 bowels in cases of colic and constipation. Before performing this 

 operation, the arm and back of the hand should be well oiled, and 

 all unnecessary violence should be avoided. 



Bandaging. 



See pages 45 and 49 to 51. 



Bleeding. 



In order to produce a general effect on the system, a horse can 

 be bled from either the right or left branch of the jugular vein. 

 These branches respectively lie in the groove which may be seen 

 just above the windpipe on either side of the neck. If the vein 

 be pressed by the points of the fingers, the portion of it which is 

 above the part pressed, will become distended with blood, and the 

 course of the vein will become clearly defined (Fig. 43, p. 119). 

 A point about ten inches from the angle of the jaw may be 

 selected as a convenient spot from which to bleed, and it is well 

 to adopt antiseptic precautions (p. 70). 



An assistant should hold the horse's head up, so that the vein 

 and the skin which covers it should be somewhat stretched and 

 pressed together. The horse should be placed in such a position 

 that the vein will be clearly defined ; and should be prevented from 

 seeing the operation by blinkers, by a cloth attached to the head- 

 stall of the bridle, by the assistant placing his hand over the eye 

 of the side on which the animal is to be bled, or by some other 

 ready moans. 



