NICKING. 
829 
sooner; and it unquestionably affects the foal less at this 
period than at the age of two years. 
The manner of performing the operation is to fix upon 
a part of the tail, and having determined on that, take the 
one next joint to it; let the hair be turned up and fastened 
with tape for an inch or two above the joint, while that which 
grows upon the vertebra itself must be cut off. The horse 
is then restrained by the side line, and the surgeon now 
applies his docking machine, and cuts it through at the 
division between the vertebras at one stroke. It is not 
uncommon for farmers and other breeders to perform the 
operation with a sharp knife, resting the tail on a board, 
and striking the back of the knife with a mallet or hammer. 
Although considerable bleeding is caused by this operation, 
there is no danger to be apprehended from it. To stop this 
in the speediest manner is to sere the stump with a red-hot 
iron, with a hole in its centre to prevent it from touching 
the bone, which would cause exfoliation ; or, if severely 
injured, it would fall off at the joint above, and thus shorten 
the desired length of the tail. The bleeding vessels are all 
on the outside of the bone. The iron must not be too hot, 
nor much pressure applied to it, neither should it be long 
continued. No kind of dressing is required after this 
operation. In some cases slight bleeding occurs after the 
use of the cautery; but when this occurs, it is better to 
allow it to stop of its own accord, as a repetition of the 
burning might cause locked-jaw, or constitutional irritation 
NICKING. 
It is to be lamented that fashion has long held a sway in 
promoting and maintaining this cruel operation, even in its 
simplest form. However, of late, public taste has materially 
unproved in this respect, for the fashion at the present day 
