CHAPTER XIV. 



FARRIERY, ETC. 



aBlTNITTON OF I-ABRIERT — CASTRATION — DOCKINa AND KICKnTO— 3L00:> 

 LirniNa--THBATMENT OF STRAINS AND WOUNDS — GALLS OF THE SKIN- 

 CRACKED HEELS— CLIPPINO AND SINGEING — ADMINISTERmO MED.CISES— 

 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



By farriery we generally understand tlie performance oi 

 those common operations 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 

 quacks into whose hands it would not be safe to place the 

 coatrol of the simplest case. 



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

 ble, appeal only to skilled veterinary surgeons, for any 

 surgical operation, no matter how trifling, of which his 

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

 services of an uneducated country farrier, he should take 

 pains to inform himself, as Sax as lies in his power, of all 

 risn 



