The New York herald., 1878-05-31
HORSES TAILS.
Opinions on the Propriety Of
Docking Them.
MR.. BERGH ON THE LAW.
He Claims that the Practice
Violates It.

The discussion started BY tho recent arrest Of
trainer In the employ OF Mr.. August Belmont Jr,
for the offence OF docking the tail OF polo pony has
by lost interest among tho horsemen OF
Now York, though considered as q discussion 1t was
perhaps somewhat lacking for, SO far the HERALD
reporter able TO collect opinions they nearly
unanimous. The OF Mr.. Bergh and his associates
caused the arrest the trainer, pronounced
far fetched ono, the idea OF calling cruelty to
shorten horses tail BY the process OF docking that
followed was ridlculed as absurd One gentleman
who drives his horses daily and for them
kindly said TO the writer, al think as much OF my
horses Mr. Bergh does, l surc, but don't
consider II my moro cruel to dock q tail that is
crooked or that is 80 ohstreperous to Interfere
viii my rens taah d fos my wife
have my daughtsr's ears pierced or wart burned
from tho hand, II she had vart to have the babies
vacc,natcd. Improve the horgea Why, OF course, il
Improves the horse l don't believe 1t strengthens
the spinal column. unless in Of disease, and l
don't think that the blood that would naturally flow
In the part that is ampuated will do more good else
where, although sec Dr. Going quotes authorities In
the HERALD this morning who advance tnesc views
But do believe II is Improvement to s,raightcn
crooked tail. and believe 1t Is an Improvement In
horse to shorten his tail II he switches IL around
10 interfere with the comfort safety of the
driver. have had several horses tails banged at diff.
horse with a long tail l have found It necessary
for disease or for habit of switching, for de-
formity-the tail being crookcd-ana IN the latter
case, which suppose Mr.. Bergn would carp at, did
not consider 1t cruelty. II Is OF course, painful
operation. So is shaving with me, and really be
nevc unskilul barber hurts more than a skiiful
veterinary surgeon hurts when he docks him.
Tho operation is very much quicker, and the horse
docs not seem to mind It half as much as know
~ st,
Mr Bcrgh to attend TO without bothering himself
about the docking of horses tails.
VETERINARY SURGEONS VIEWS
Among veterinary surgeons .he view taken was
substantially the same that OF Dr. Cattanach and
DR.. Going, as sot forth in their cards published In
yestcrday's HERALD 1hat the operation, although
IT Is unquestionably attended with somc pain not
cruel one, excepting Dy forced Interpretation OF
the word, for the pain is OF very short duraon and Is
followed by inaisputuble benefits. Veterinary Sur
geon Charles q. Buneii, Of Lexington avenue, VINO
has had many years. experience and is looked upon
OF the old school practitioners SAID that II
was many cases benefit 10 horse TO have his
tail dockcd ~ have performed the operation
myscli" eaid sor years. Tho last time did II
was al the stage stables OF which had
charge Tor about twclve years That horse had an
unusually long tail and he continually striking
the VI II against the whietree that he kept IL
all the time. Now. IN case ike that
~
on the end OF tno tan 1nen horses tail
often grows oil TO one side or grows down
close between his hiDd legs, and II benefits hts ap
pvarance 10 have IL cut that II will hang better.
That might be considered benefit to the owner
prceiate the improve mcnI in his looks much as
the owner who can sell MIN Tor 500 or 300 more in
.Is tho operation q painful one Z" asked tho re-
por;.r pru !, ~ ,ro,,x o,,,n, ~. ,.u 900.
cut of and tho end scared with iron rosin
put on IT. VI course, tho cutting and burning were
PAINFUL Bul they do not Use the iron, believe,
and really The pain ~ SO short aud SO tring IN COM
parson with the benefit works that II seems hardly
worth while to consider II"
NOT A PAINFUL OPERATION
Dr. Nostrand, OF The Now York College Of Veterinary
Surgeons, said tDat lie Know nothing VI the partlcu
OF the OF Fraser the trainer whose arrest
was caused by the society tor the Prevention OF
Cruelty TO Animals, but ne seemed considerably aA-
tonsned 10 tn,DK that any ono snouc consder Il an
act OF cruelty to dock a horses tail, although Mr.
Bergh, he knew had some curious IDEAS about norse.
II dont see why ne doesn't object 10 the process Of
geiding,n he said sor that OF nrDg Tor the SPAWN
Both oi them are far more painful tnan docking ana
yet never heard oi any one even Mr. Bergh, object
II was suggested that Mr. Bcrghs idea was probably
that painful operation that was not ccssary was
cruel, while necessary operation was not cruel
''But docking Is necessary operation" said Dr.
kostrand.
ls ii not done generally Tor the sake OF stylish ap-
pcarancc 2" asked the reporter.
de almost regretted asking The question moment
chewing n dimpidated straw snincd in
lemptuous manner. al you was 10 dock horse now
adays,' no said, ''hc'u be took old horse.'
now THE OPERATION PERFoRMEp
"rhey USED TO dock hoIscs Tor the sake OF stylish
appearance" said Dr. Nostrand, ''uut they don't
now. unless the tail Is deiormod or crooked. But
they do dock them ior tha. lor anything that
ais the tail that be cured by docking, 30 fa 10
see the difference between that ana the other
operations mentIoncu. CcrtaEly 1t ~ not pam
lul as ,ituer oil the DINERS 1hc ta rs pI0ced post
lion aerooved block and the knife comes down IKE
mat, ana MS all over" Ana he brought his hands
together IA way that reminded Of the operation OF
small guotinc.
III do not believe" be said fur.hcr .lhat the cut
ting on oil The end strengthens the spinal column
thai the operation benefits the health OF horse that
L. already healthy. No more would benefit
healthy horse 10 hre MIN es you Would spawned
one, bat 1t rs certainly abcneht ~ many cases"
ANOTHER SURGEONS oriSioS
DR.. Fenicy. tue housc surgeon o. Horse Hospi-
tai at No 2u5 Lexingto avenue, snid mat he Ger.
taniy saw na objaciiun 10 docking horse u his tail
was injured ~ diseased ~ any way 30 tina, The DOCK
Ing toucilt 10 nim. He looked upon the opera
tuu exactly as ho cid any other surgical operation
AID the tail got In the way, as In many cases ana,
IRON a bad baUit the morse might nave OF switching
aroma the rclns, he thought n was necessary to do
something 10 prevent the accidents that were liable
10 cnsuc, aud 'he only remedy he kncN OF was the
docking OF the tai. 1t was painful operation. OF
course, he said, but u was not 10 W considered
sruei one, he thought As benefit was derived romiI
LETTER From MR. BkRan.
Tho following Is a letter written by Mr.. Bcrgh In
'egard to the .'docking OF horses tails.n
ds.psg.srrns os rms soen1y ron , Ias rn,yss1os OF
Twssrr .sNcosp srMnKI, nav ionk cIrr;-
ms proesoie .na no &C, q ae'iDes.e e,aey or Other
offender endeavoring 10 Justify himself plea
rretcxs o Necessity The Ingenuity q these eyasons oi
law and responsibility sometimes challenge adnra
tion. by reason ~ their srt aad ,risinaty,
hut II often that 'buidoxingr ex.
pedient. TO use mOacrn phrase. is carried
10 extent Of pretending that Important 0f
animal organiz ton should be cut oil suppressed,
cause IL onrnds against caprceus ideas oi fashion
venence 0f sporting men III lmentaDe fact
mai Of ali the the benchcent
bestowed the although the useful
Il the abused As u IL were not enough ~ impose
him burdens lator and privs.ion. 60 MS
endurance the ingenuity Of his oppressors
directed the netn OF ctuelties which their
treauentIy ostcntstiOus priur
OF Nj. owner the culpaelc indoence % MS gronm
.tts sndant. The bnrbar.u ceck rsin bit binder.
nloug he oFENnic alteration clipping
OH and singing 81 the nnir winch Provi1ence mrrciiuy
prvyinrr his protection against the elements
,e among evidences o the truth OF that
undersigned led 60 make these reflections because
ongthy which appears In tho columns OF