SECURING OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



55 



of contention is to tie a long rope around their base, passing it 

 along the neck and the back with one loop around the ribs and 

 another further back around the flanks, and when reaching the 

 tail securing it there by a knot at the base of that member. The 

 head is thus kept elevated, and he is restrained from motion by 

 the pain experienced by the tail when the rope is tightened by his 

 attempt to flex it. This assures his passiveness (Fig. 42). 



The practice of shielding the sharp points of the horns with 

 smooth, metaUio balls is one which tends largely to diminish the 

 power of the animal for doing harm, by obviating to a great ex- 

 tent the danger from punctured wounds to which those who han- 

 dle them are exposed. The best mode, however, of securing cat- 

 tle while standing, is by tying the head up to a post or a tree, or 

 again by yoking an individual with his mate or another animal of 

 the same species. Kicks must also be guarded against. Those 

 by the fore legs are avoided by raising one foot and tying it on 

 the forearm, thus compelling the animal to stand on three legs. 

 But the hind legs of cattle are the most dangerous from their 

 ability to kick in so many directions, whether backward, forward 

 or outward. 



Several methods are recommended by which to guard against 

 this form of dajiger. Among these may be mentioned the passing 

 of the tail forward between the hind legs and then outward, car- 

 rying it towards the stifle of the leg from which the kick may pro- 

 ceed, and holding it firmly with a backward ptdl ; thus surround- 



PlG. 42.— To Prevent Cattle from Kicking. 



