CHAPTER XIV. 



FARRIERY, KTa 



(UBIlirniOS OF PABBISBY — CASTRATION — DOCKING AND NICKINO— 3L<\<1> 



LimiNi3--rREATiIENT OF STRAINS AND WOUNDS — GALIS OP TEE SKIN— 

 BRACKED HEELS —CLIPPING ANT) SINGEINO — ADMINISTERINO MEDICINES- 

 DISEASES OF TEE FEET. 



By ferriery we generally understand the performance ol 

 those common operatious which do not require the aid of 

 a Veterinary Surgeon, but may be practiced, with pretty 

 good success, by men of practical experience, who have 

 little or no scientific knowledge of the anatomy and phys- 

 iology of the horse. It is true that very many, if not all 

 of these, would be performed much better by a skilled 

 Veterinary Surgeon, but they are of such a character that 

 his services are not absolutely essential. These operations 

 are chiefly such as affect only the external parts and organs 

 of the animal ; and they may be safely entrusted to any 

 person, who has had a fair amount of experience in the 

 management of sick horse-flesh. It is to be premised, 

 however, that very few of those smiths on whose signs 

 there appears, " Horse Shoer and Farrier^'* are better than 

 q[uacks into whose hands it would not be safe to place the 

 rx)ntrol of the simplest case. 



As a general rule, every horse owner should, if possi- 

 ble, appeal only to skilled veterinary surgeons, for any 

 Burgical operation, no matter how trifling, of which his 

 horse may stand in need. Where he has to depend on the 

 Bcrvioes of an uneducated country farrier, he should take 

 pains to inform himselfj as far as lies in bis power, of aU 



