RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 



51 



leather with numerous buckle-holes to make it adjustable to any 

 sized head. The tie ropes are ordinary half inch hemp, long enougli 

 to encircle the pillar or to reach the pillars of a stall of any ordi- 

 nary width. Whenever the tie ropes, owing to the construction of 

 the stall, cannot be tied low enough on the pillars to hold the head 

 down to the proper height, a third rope or strap is tied to the lower 

 end of the halter, passing between the fore legs around the withers 

 and back again between the fore legs to the halter. By this addi- 

 tion a horse can be secured in an open room, field, or box stall with 

 only the assistance of one person to steady the head. 



In the absence of the dental halter, dental operations should 

 be performed with the aid of an assistant, holding the head with 

 one hand on the poll and the other over the nasal bridge. 



The operator takes his place directly in front of the horse, 



Floating the nioU 



placing his left hand over the bridge of the horse's nose to help 

 steady the head and draw the patient's attention. The right hand 

 is then passed into the mouth through the dental space of the left 

 side of the patient's mouth, pressing its tongue from the right to 



