32 
J. E. RYDER. 
These knives are large, heavy and of great leverage, the jaws 
being large enough to completely surround the tail ; division is 
accomplished by a sharp, quick closing of the handles. It is 
immaterial when using one of these instruments whether you 
amputate at an articulation or in the centre of the vertebrae, as 
they will cut bone with little or no difficulty, being nothing 
more nor less than large, heavy bone forceps. 
The next and last step of the operation is to check the 
haemorrhage, which is done with a firing iron of peculiar shape 
at almost a white heat ; this is applied to the end of the tail and 
held firmly to it, searing the tail anywhere from one-eighth to 
one-quarter of an inch. Some then place powdered resin over 
the seared end, and melt it with the still hot iron ; others place 
a small quantity of hair over the end which is melted with the 
hot iron. This is done to form a thick, heavy covering or scab 
over the end of the tail ; many do not use either resin or hair, 
completing the operation with the searing. 
It is by this method that 95 per cent, of the tails are docked 
to-day. I have added five per-cent., as fully half of the veteri¬ 
narians use this method, on the ground that it is the quickest, 
easiest, and, lastly, it pleases the coachman. 
Another method in operating is to prepare the tail in the 
same manner as in the last operation, but instead of amputating 
at any point, an articulation is selected ; division in this method 
is accomplished with a heavy curved bistoury, a circular incis¬ 
ion is made around the tail down to the vertebra, which is then 
disarticulated, and amputation is complete. The haemorrhage 
is checked by tying a round piece of chamois or linen filled with 
iron or some of its preparations to act as a styptic around the 
end of the tail, drawn sufficiently tight to interrupt the circula¬ 
tion. This is allowed to remain forty-eight hours, when it is 
removed and the tail treated as a simple wound. 
The last method is known as the flap operation. In this an 
articulation is selected, the hair is finely braided down to the 
desired point, then turned upwards towards the body, a rubber 
bandage is then rolled from the operating point upward and se- 
