DOCKING. 437 



gradually occupy and fill the hollow. In deep fistulous wounds they are indis- 

 pensable, for except some channel is made through which the matter may flow 

 from the bottom of the wound, it will continue to penetrate deeper into the part 

 and the healing process will never be accomplished. On these accounts a 

 seton passed through the base of the ulcer in poll-evil and fistulous withers is 

 of«so much benefit. 



Setons are sometimes useful by promoting a discharge in the neighbourhood 

 of an inflamed part, and thus diverting and carrying away a portion of the fluids 

 which distend or overload the vessels of that part : thus a seton is placed with 

 considerable advantage in the cheek, when the eyes are much inflamed. We 

 confess, however, that we prefer a rowel under the jaw. 



With this view, and to excite a new and different inflammation in the neigh- 

 bourhood of a part already inflamed, and especially so deeply seated and so 

 difficult to be reached as the navicular joint, a seton has occasionally been used 

 with manifest benefit, but we must peremptorily object to the indiscriminate use 

 of the frog-seton for almost every disease of the frog or the foot. 



In inflammations of extensive organs setons afford only feeble aid. Their 

 action is too circumscribed. In inflammation of the chest or the intestines, a 

 rowel is preferable to a seton; and a blister is far better than either of them. 



On the principle of exciting the absorbents to action for the removal of tu- 

 mours, as spavin or splent, a blister is quicker in its action, and far more effectual 

 than any seton. Firing is still more useful. 



DOCKING. 



The shortening of the tail of the horse is an operation which fashion and the 

 convenience of the rider require to be performed on most of these animals. The 

 length of the dock, or stump, is a matter of mere caprice. To the close-cropped 

 tail of the waggon-horse, however, we decidedly object, from its perfect ugliness, 

 and because the animal is deprived of every defence against a thousand torturers. 

 The supposition that the blood which would have gone to the nourishment of the 

 tail, causes greater development and strength in the quarters, is too absurd to 

 deserve serious refutation. It is the rump of the animal being wholly uncovered, 

 and not partly hidden by the intervention of the tail, that gives a false appear- 

 ance of increased bulk. 



The operation is simple. That joint is searched for which is the nearest to 

 the desired length of tail. The hair is then turned up, and tied round with tape 

 for an inch or two above this joint ; and that which lies immediately upon the 

 joint is cut off. The horse is fettered with the side-line, and then the veterinary 

 surgeon with his docking-machine, or the farmer with his carving-knife and 

 mallet, cuts through the tail at one stroke. Considerable bleeding ensues, 

 and frightens the timid and the ignorant ; but if the blood were suffered to flow 

 on until it ceased of its own accord, the colt, and especially if he were very 

 young, would rarely be seriously injured. As, however, the bleeding would 

 occasionally continue for some hours, and a great quantity of blood might be 

 lost, and the animal might be somewhat weakened, it is usual to stop the hae- 

 morrhage by the application of a red-hot iron to the stump. A large hole is 

 made in the centre of the iron, that the bone may not be seared, which would 

 exfoliate if it were burned with any severity, or drop off at the joint above, and 

 thus shorten the dock. The iron rests on the muscular parts round the bone, 

 and is brought into contact with the bleeding vessels, and very speedily stops the 

 haemorrhage. Care should be taken that the iron is not too hot, — and that it is 

 not held too long or too forcibly on the part, for many more horses would be 

 destroyed by severe application of the cautery, than by the bleeding being left 

 to its own course. 



