DOCKING. 
33 
cured, which will effectively control the haemorrhage. Others, 
instead of using the rubber bandage, use a rubber bandage or 
tourniquet; the tail is now thoroughly washed with some antisep¬ 
tic. Next, either a four or a ten per cent, solution of cocaine is 
injected above and below the articulation to be operated upon. 
After waiting the usual time for the action of this drug, a long, 
straight bistoury is passed through the articulation from 
above and below. Then the articulation is cut through to the 
edge of the vertebra, when the bistoury is turned downward 
and a flap about an inch long cut from the side of the follow¬ 
ing vertebra ; the bistoury is then brought back into the centre 
of the articulation, and the disarticulation completed ; and the 
second flap cut on the opposite side in the same manner as the 
first. These two flaps are now brought together with five inter¬ 
rupted sutures, two above, one in the point, and two below ; a 
layer of absorbent cotton, saturated with tincture of iron, is now 
firmly bandaged around the end, and the rubber bandage or 
tourniquet removed; the cotton and bandage is allowed to re¬ 
main six or eight hours, and is then removed. 
While there is more or less haemorrhage following this man¬ 
ner of operating, it is never of any great amount, the tail is 
thoroughly washed the following day, and a small quantity of 
dressing powder applied ; no further treatment is required for 
ten days ; at that time the tail should be washed and sutures 
removed, and the one or two small points of granulations (if 
any) removed ; cicatrization will be complete in two weeks ; 
there is no danger of the sutures tearing out or breaking, as 
very little swelling follows the operation. 
For several reasons I consider this to be far superior to any 
other method of operating, whether you operate for fashion or 
disease. It is painless and scientific, you have a natural end to 
the tail and not the exposed stump with its large cicatrix, and 
the complications are reduced to a minimum. 
The self-styled professional docker tried to emulate this 
method, but failed, as he could not locate the articulations, but 
in order to overcome that difficulty had a docking knife made 
