194 THE CANADIAN HOESE 



DOCKING, NICKING, ETC. 



Professor Dick in his " Manual of Veterinary Science," says 

 of these operations : — " I believe the time is near at hand 

 when even the cow-leech will perceive the absurdity of endea- 

 vouring to improve upon the fair forms of the most graceful 

 works of nature, and wiU leave the horse's tail no less orna- 

 mental than useful." 



As a general custom inflicted on the horse, merely to please 

 some ignorant fancy, docking is most justly reprobated, it is 

 a cruel operation, not only from the pain of the operation, 

 but even more cruel in depriving the poor animal of the 

 beautiful provision which nature has given him as a defence 

 from flies and other equine torm€nts, with which this coun- 

 try especially abounds. It also sometimes induces lockjaw, 

 and results in death. 



There are a few instances, however, in which it may be 

 somewhat justifiable, as, for instance, some horses are very 

 troublesome in driving, by getting the line under the tail, 

 "when they will start to kick or run away ; sometimes from 

 the ungainly manner of carrying the tail, it materially depre- 

 ciates his value. When by docking or pricking it he may be 

 made more safe and serviceable, or his market value be in- 

 creased, we are justified in operating with as little unnecessary 

 torture as possible. 



In performing it, the joint at which it is to be amputated 

 being determined on, the hair above it is shed back and tied 

 with a cord, the part is clipped close, and the tail being held 

 out by an assistant, with one cut of the docking shears it is 

 severed. The bleeding is stopped by lightly searing with an 

 iron with a hole in the centre so as not to burn the bone. 

 Some practitioners amputate it so as to leave flaps to cover 

 the bone ; by this method the stump is entirely covered by 



