672 OPERATIONS. 



in the extremely rare cases to which it applies; supposing, of 

 course, that the remedy was not worse than the complaint. 



I think that the conclusion drawn from the foregoing obser- 

 vations is that docking, with the exception just mentioned, is 

 cruelty, because it causes unnecessary pain. The suffering in- 

 flicted during the operation is a mere trifle compared to the 

 misery the mutilated animal has to endiire in the open during hot 

 weather. In this respect, brood mares which have been docked 

 are particularly to be pitied, and men who dock fillies or get them 

 docked, merit the contempt of all lovers of horses. Apart from 

 the stud question, a docked mare " in ' season," especially when 

 ridden by a lady in the hunting field, is a disgusting and indecent 

 sight which should not be tolerated in a civilised country. 



THE OPERATION.— Much as I object to the custom of docking, 

 I am describing how it should be performed ; because, as already 

 stated, the operation may be necessary in order to correct de- 

 formity of the tail, and, in any case, it is well to have it properly 

 done. Its performance by ignorant persons is often the cause 

 of much needless suffering. 



Although the pain of this amputation is more or less propor- 

 tionate to the age of the animal operated on, it is much better to 

 defer the docking till the colt or filly is taken up from grass, than 

 to shorten the tail at an earlier age, so that the youngster may 

 escape as much annoyance from flies as possible. Besides, when 

 the animal is taken up from grass, say, between three or four 

 years of age, his owner, even if partial to docking, may see fit to 

 leave the horse's tail alone ; if, for instance, he wants to sell the 

 animal for remount purposes, or to go in a brougham. 



Having selected the site of operation, which is generally 4 to 8 

 inches from the end of the dock (solid portion of the tail), the 

 hair of the remaining pai-t is turned up, and tied tightly with a 

 cord, which acts as a tourniquet. The hair roimd the intended 

 point of incision is out off with a scissors, and the exposed skin 

 is disinfected (p. 70). To prevent the animal kicking during the 

 operation, it is advisable to suspend the near fore leg, by con- 

 necting it with a stirrup leather to a roller or surcingle put round 

 the horse's body. This method of suspending a fore leg is de- 

 scribed in " Illustrated Horse-Breaking." A good plan of fixing 

 the part is to put a strong man at the end of the tail, and let him 

 pull and pull hard. The Joint is then stretched, and after the 

 severance is effected, there is very little haemorrhage. In making 

 the amputation, which is generally done with a docking machine 

 made for the purpose, the great point to observe is to cut through 

 a joint, and not through one of the bones of the tail ; if one of 



