Cupping and myotomy of the tail muscles as cosmetic operations in horses in European printed sources of the XVII- XVIII centuries

Abstract

Relevance and goals. Tail amputation or surgical correction in domestic animals, especially in horses, is not accepted by society and is prohibited by law in many countries, except when performed for medicinal purposes. They are not encouraged by the rules and regulations of international sports and breeding associations, as mutilating, and have a very limited distribution. The authors of the historical sources we have taken agree that the operation of tail amputation in horses in the middle of the 17th century was already a common procedure performed quite successfully. By studying and comparing these sources, features and differences in anatomical description, surgical techniques, and postoperative care, one can come closer to understanding the development of veterinary medicine in Europe and Russia at that time.
Materials and methods. A number of printed European sources of the 17th-18^th centuries were analyzed, which contain descriptions of surgical procedures aimed at correcting the length and position of a horse's tail. Among the selected sources are books in English and Spanish, including books translated into Russian, published in printed form and representing guides for specialists and animal owners.
Results. The sources we have studied present two main operations on the horse’s tail. These are tail amputation (caudotomy) and tail myotomy. We studied anatomical descriptions of the structure of the horse's tail, indications of the qualifications of surgeons, descriptions of surgical techniques, methods of fixing animals, postoperative care and complications.