426 DOCKING — ITS EFFECTS. [BOOK II. 



&c. were administered as before, and continued 

 until the 21st, when another purgative drench and 

 emollient clyster were given. The jaws were now 

 more open, and the mare could masticate hay : the 

 muscles of the head, neck, back, and hinder extre- 

 mities, became considerably relaxed, and on raising 

 the head, the haws did not cover much of the eye. 

 On the 23d day, the purging having subsided, the 

 anti-spasmodic medicine was again employed until 

 the 10th of April, when another purge was admi- 

 nistered. On the 12th, the purging subsided; the 

 anti-spasmodic medicine was again used a few days 

 longer, when she was completely cured of the com- 

 plaint. After this, tonics were given, which, with 

 a nourishing diet and suitable exercise, soon re- 

 stored the tone of the muscles, and the animal be- 

 came as useful as ever." 



Of the twenty-four cases described, nine came 

 on after docking or cutting off the tail, from ten 

 days to a month after the operation. In such cases, 

 the tail was fomented with warm water, and the 

 sore dressed with detersive ointment. It should be 

 remarked, that in all the successful cases the jaws 

 were not so completely closed but medicine could 

 be given with a small horn, or introduced as a bolus, 

 by means of a cane. In some instances, there ap- 

 pears to have been considerable difficulty in giving 

 medicine at first, but by persevering carefully, both 

 medicine and food were introduced in sufficient 

 quantity. With respect to cold application, Mr. 

 Wilkinson says, he has only tried it once, when the 



