FOR OPERATION. 
irn 
of the profession fire and nick standing; but I do not consider it 
safe for the operator or his patient, nor can I believe that we are 
warranted in hazarding the occurrence of any injury to either. 
The twitch, blinds, and side-line, are all that are necessary in 
this operation. Every body is acquainted with the twitch ; but 
I would recommend, especially to country practitioners, the con¬ 
stant possession of this article upon a small scale, nine or ten 
inches long. It will occasionally prove a useful assistant, when 
otherwise absent. 
The blinds are sometimes effectual in quieting unruly horses ; 
they also preserve the eyes from injury. They should be gene¬ 
rally twenty-five inches long and twelve and a half deep, with 
two semi-globular pieces of leather let in over the eyes : the straps 
attached to them should buckle on either side. 
The side-line is a rope about seven yards long and one inch 
thick, with a hobble at the end; or the common casting-rope, 
with a hobble attached, will answer the same end: but it is 
necessary to keep one for the purpose, as it is frequently called 
into use at other times, when the patient undergoes castration, 
&c. Make a collar of one end, place it round the neck, affix a 
hobble round the hind leg; run the rope through the ring, and 
draw the hind leg forwards, and make it secure. This will pre¬ 
vent the horse from kicking or rearing. 
A snaffle bridle with a plain bridoon bit I should recommend 
to be used on all occasions; a buckle on the top of the head, 
and one at the junction of the rein. 
A strong broad leather roller, six inches wide, either with or 
without a back rope attached—or the side-line can be buckled to 
it—will be found very useful at the time of casting. Order is 
gain,” says the last veterinary author ; so I would recommend 
the observance of his maxim in casting horses for operations. 
1 have for years always thrown my patients on the off side, and 
turned them over when requisite ; as for instance, when castrating 
or firing inside the hind legs, having the upper leg drawn for¬ 
wards by the side-line ; or, if the fore legs are the subject of ope¬ 
ration, either of them may be released from the hobbles by 
affixing a hemp webbing around the foot, having previously 
buckled on the cross hobbles (which are nothing more than two 
hobbles connected with a strap to admit of lengthening or short¬ 
ening) above the hock and knee. The operation being conclud¬ 
ed, the hobbles are unbuckled, taking care always to release 
the under legs first. 
While I am on this subject, I will acknowledge myself in¬ 
debted to Mr. Gloag for his description of some improved hob- 
VOL. XI. K 
