The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-02
DOCKING" HORSES TAILS.

MR. BERGH QUOTES AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT
OF HIS CLAIM THAT TIE PRACTICE Is
CRUEL ONE.
The agitation over the "dockng' or cutting Of
horses tails appears not after ALL 10 have died out
with the recent acquittai Of Mr.. Bclmont's groom,
Fraser. Mr.. Bcrgh again throws down the gauntlet,
aud subjoiDcd letter cites numerous authori.
support OF his claim that the practice Is need-
less aud cruel one:-
To THE EpIroR TIE hRRALD:-
In order that the public be informed ofthe rep
rehensibie practice OF cutting on horses tails SUD-
mil the following pre- eminent authorities Tor pubica-
Mayhem, author Of the 'Illus,ratsd Horse Doctors
on page 1856 says"rhe tall continuation from the
ver.eore." "It 10 . continuation OF she spane."
, "YouHtt on tho structure and Diseases Of the
Horse (pase S67) sxys:-"The horse being fettered,
tho surgeon -tnen with hts knife and naiIss cuts
through tho laL The bleeding which ensues stopped
by the application OF hot iron. WHOM rests the
muscular parts around the bone IN contact with ths
beeding vessels Care should be used, as horses may
be destroyed oy severe application the cauIery,
bot iron. Better not Apply toe nos''on second time
Fleming surgeon 10 Kings Own hussars. author
OF "rraveIs IN Iartary," Aays:-"Nicking and dock
ing the tan belong to that class Of barbarous opera
lions which are now all bat oDsoiste. These opera
lions, aud especially docking are most painful, and
accompanied BY great dsnger as tetanus or locxjaw
very frequently sets N and causes DEATH" (See
Fleming ON "vivissetIon," page Ill
norbert (authVr OF ''Hints to Horsekcepers" page
1891 says-'rhe barburous methods oil aeprlving the
horse OF his form and appearance In order
make him conform 10 tue fashion OF me time is Tor.
tuasssIy fast gong into ,. ssuss;" ana, :, uo.
Veterinary Msdicine.' page 124) says:-"rhs opera.
ton Of docking may be followed by unpleasant con.
scqucuces such as Inflammation, gangrene, 1stulous
ulcer and tetanus."
George II. Dadd lauthor Ut 'Aoderu Herse Doctor"
page 364j says:-'Fashi0n condemns poor, uncom-
planning brute TO torture. merely Tor tie caprice Of
g an a
our own race" Also IN MA "rneory and Practice Of
Veterinary surgery" page 800 ne says:-"it !:
natures menals aud feel inclined 10 indorss the
septmenss oil tho poet 1uppsr, VINO says:-1n that
great day. when crime IS sentenced, cruel shall
not 70 uucondemuod, because no complaining brute
stands the,e accusing, Tor our Father careth when
sparrow Dies" Horses should nevcr BE- deprived Ut
any part OF that valuable weapon OF defence Knowa
the tail IL Is part and parcel OF tue organiza-
lion Of tue horse, and to deprive him oil what
Nature gave him Is outrage, which should
be considered beneath the dignity OF u gentleman
Besides the cruelty when ~ acknowledged to DO
centica with the operation, there are other roasons
The grounds OF physiology, why the tail should be
lett entire. Neutrality-suspicious. IN no country Ia
Is wonderful now anybody but AN ignorant, narrow
minded blockhcad OF jockey should ever have
thought OF IT, being offensive to good taste II n
violation OF evcrv human feeling Has Nature done
her work ~ such bungiing manner that large
piece OF bone should DO chopped on that paragon VI
animals 10 reduce him 10 symmetry
docking and nicking OF horaes," says writer. 's
n shockingly cruel practice. uud ought TO be absn-
don cd by whole mankind Every human
being possessed oil feeling and magnanimous mind
must confess that u Is cruel aud entirely uncalled Tor
BESIDES our Creator given the tail Tor defence
well beauty, and cutting IL Cd woakens tho loins
Any OF common sense would give ten per cont
more Tor horse whose tu hau not been nutilAlcd
1t Is not many years since Dame Fashion," ia
London, conceived fashion Tor high stepping horses,
and III order TO crafty that caprice sue caused the
eyes Of her bcAui fu ANIMALS 10 be oAuterizod with
red hot iton that tearing to umbe, the creatures
would hit their ieet nigh up from the ground. IL 10
well known that tho Arabs consider the tails or their
horses material agents In the performance OF quick
anu abrupt moveuenss Ia iact regard ng them inuca
In tho light Of the ruddersoi q vessel Polo playeu
should know this. HENRY BERGH.