368 



NICKING. 



This barbarous operation was once sanctioned by fashion, and 

 the breeder and the dealer even now are sometimes tempted to 

 inflict the torture of it in order to obtain a ready sale for their 

 colts. It is not, however, practised to the extent that it used to 

 be, nor attended by so many circumstances of cruelty. 



The operation is thus performed. The side-line is put on the 

 hoise, or some persons deem it more prudent to cast him, and 

 that precaution we should be disposed to recommend. The hair 

 at the end of the tail is securely tied together, for the purpose of 

 afterwards attaching a weight to it. The operator then grasps 

 the tail in his hand, and, lifting it up, feels for the centre of one 

 of the bones — the prominences at the extremities will guide him 

 — from two to four inches from the root of the tail, according to 

 the size of the horse. He then, with a sharp knife, divides the 

 muscles deeply from the edge of the tail on one side to the centre, 

 and, continuing the incision across the bone of the tail, he makes 

 it as deep on the other side. One continued incision, steadily 

 yet rapidly made, will accomplish all this. If it is a blood-horse 

 that is operated on, this will be sufficient. For a hunter, two 

 .ncisions are usually made, the second being about two inches 

 below the first, and likewise as nearly as possible in the centre 

 of one of the bones. 



On a hackney, or cocktail, a third incision is made ; for fashion 

 has decided that his tail shall be still more elevated and curved 

 Two incisions only are made in the tail of a mare, and the second 

 not very deep. 



When the second incision is made, some fibres of the muscles 

 between the first and second will project into the wound, and 

 must be removed by a pair of curved scissors. The same must 

 be done with the projecting portions from between the secona 

 and third incisions. The ^vound should then be carefully ex- 

 amined, in order to ascertain that the muscles have been equally 

 divided on each side, otherwise the tail will be carried awiy. 

 This being done, pledgets of tow must be introduced deeply into 

 each incision, and confined, but not too tightly, by a bandage. 

 A very profuse bleeding will alone justify any tightness of band- 

 age, and the ill consequences that have resulted from nicking are 

 mainly attributable to the unnecessary force that is used in con- 

 fining these pledgets. Even if the bleeding, immediately after 

 the operation, should have been very great, the roller must be 

 loosened in two or three hours, otherwise swelling and inflamma- 

 tion, and even death, may possibly ensue. Twenty-four hours 

 after the operation, the bandage must be quite removed ; and 



