360 OPERATIONS. 



of the improved hobbles, by which any leg may be released from 

 confinement, and returned to it at pleasure ; and, when the opera- 

 tion is ended, the whole of the legs may be set at liberty at once, 

 without danger. The method of putting the legs as closely to- 

 gether as possible before the pull — the necessity of the assistants 

 all pulling together — and the- power which one man standing at 

 the head, and firmly holding the snaffle-bridle, and another at the 

 haunch, pushing the horse when he is beginning to fall, have in 

 bringing him on the proper side, and on the very spot on which 

 he is intended to lie, need not to be described. It will generally 

 be found most convenient to throw the patients on the off side, 

 turning them over when it is required. This, however, is a 

 method of securing the horse to which we repeat that we are not 

 partial, and to which we should not resort, except necessity com- 

 pelled ; for in the fact of falling, and in the struggles after 

 falling, many accidents have occurred, both to the horse and to 

 the surgeon. 



Among the minor methods of restraint, but sufficient for many 

 purposes, are the twitch and the barnacles. The former consists 

 of a noose passed through a hole at the end of a strong stick, and 

 in which the muzzle is inclosed. The stick being turned round, 

 the muzzle is securely retained, while the horse suffers considerable 

 pain from the pressure — sufficiently great, indeed, to render him 

 comparatively inattentive to that which is produced by the oper- 

 ation ; at the same time he is afraid to struggle, for every motion 

 increases the agony caused by the twitch, or the assistant has power 

 to increase it by giving an additional turn to the stick. 



The degree of pain produced by the application of the twitch 

 should never be forgotten or unnecessarily increased. In no case 

 should it be resorted to when milder measures would have the de- 

 sired effect. Grooms and horse-keepers are too much in the habit 

 of having recourse to it when they have a somewhat troublesome 

 horse to manage. The degree of useless torture which is thus in- 

 flicted in large establishments is dreadful : and the temper of many 

 a horse is too frequently completely spoiled. 



The barnacles are the handles of the pincers placed over and 

 inclosing the muzzle, and which, being compressed by the assist- 

 ant, give pain almost equal to that of the twitch. These may 

 appear to be barbarous modes of enforcing submission, but they 

 are absolutely indispensable. In a few instances the blindfolding 

 of the horse terrifies him into submission ; but this is not to be 

 depended upon. The twitch should be resorted to when the 

 least resistance is offered ; and when that, as it occasionally does, 

 renders the horse more violent, recourse must be had to the side- 

 line or the hobbles. 



In the painful examination of the fore-leg or foot while on the 



