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MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
obedience. Sometimes this can be effected by blindfolding, 
but cannot be depended upon. Sometimes the use of the 
barnacles are ineffectual, which renders the side-line and 
twitch indispensable. 
The Side-Line. —This is found useful in the operations 
of nicking, docking, and slight firing. It consists of the 
long line of the hobbles, or common cart-rope, with a noose 
at one end. This is fixed to one of the pasterns of a hind 
leg. The rope is then carried over the neck, and afterwards 
round the withers, and this is tied to that portion which 
comes from the leg. By drawing this leg forward, it renders 
him incapable of kicking with the other ; and should he 
attempt to use his fore leg, the other may be seized and 
held up, which renders any exertion on his part nugatory. 
The above will be found effectual in all the more simple 
operations; and that even with restiff horses, if the 
assistants are determined and know how to restrain the 
animals. Sometimes the side-line is made so as to include 
both limbs, but in the struggles of the animal he is apt to 
throw himself, and may be injured in his fall. 
For the more severe operations of firing and castration, 
improved hobbles are used. These permit of any single leg 
to be set at liberty and returned at pleasure ; and when the 
operation is finished, all the legs may be freed from restraint 
in an instant. We need not describe the methods employed 
to throw a horse, because these are well known to the 
practical veterinarian, to whom alone operations which 
require this degree of restraint should be entrusted, and 
therefore we shall not touch upon them. 
BLEEDING. 
It is a too frequent practice for gentlemen who have 
given a little attention to the veterinary art, as well as with 
