34 
J. E. RYDER. 
V shape, and by placing this upon the tail he could divide the 
vertebra at any point and cut his flaps with a single closing of 
the knife. 
As a result of using a knife of this kimd the vertebra was 
splintered in the amputation, and as a result abscesses, slough¬ 
ing and gangrene frequently followed, and for that reason they 
denounce this form of operating. The complications most fre¬ 
quently met as a result of docking are tetanus, abscesses, exces¬ 
sive granulation, and sloughing of the vertebra ; none of these, 
barring tetanus, will follow the flap operation, and tetanus will 
be of rare occurrence. In my opinion the others are caused by 
the excessive use of the actual cautery and splintering the ver¬ 
tebra. 
An important question, and one that we are frequently 
asked, is it cruelty ? My answer is that when performed in any 
manner except the flap operation, and then without the use of 
cocaine, Yes. That it is an unlawful operation when performed 
for fashion you all know, and any one performing it is guilty of 
a misdemeanor. While there is no special law on this opera¬ 
tion it comes under the general law of cruelty, which is as fol¬ 
lows, viz. : 
Sec. 655. Overdriving animal. Failing to provide proper 
sustenance. A person who overdrives, overloads, tortures or 
cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates or kills 
any animals whether wild or tame and whether belonging to 
himself or to another, or deprives any animal of necessary sus¬ 
tenance, food or drink, or neglects or refuses to furnish it such 
•sustenance or drink, or causes, procures, and permits any ani¬ 
mals to be overdriven, overloaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or 
unjustifiably injured, maimed, mutilated, or killed, or to be de¬ 
prived of necessary food or drink, or who wilfully sets on foot, 
instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty 
to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, is 
guilty of a misdemeanor. 
The legal definition of cruelty is as follows, viz. : 
Sec. 669. Definitions. 1. The word “animal” as used in 
