FIRING. 575 
drawn, but a repetition of the operation may be decided on if the clot of 
the blood, after standing, is very concave at the top (cupped), or if it is 
very yellow (buffed), and especially if both these signs are present. In 
inflammation of a severe character less than six quarts of blood will 
seldom lower the pulse sufficiently to be of much service, and sometimes 
seven or eight quarts even must be taken from a large plethoric animal. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN will sometimes supervene upon bleeding, 
the symptoms being a slight swelling appearing in the evening, or the 
next day, with a little oozing from the wound. These are soon followed 
by a hard cord-like enlargement of the vein, which feels hot to the touch, 
and the parts at the angle of the jaw swell considerably. The consequence 
generally is that the vein is obliterated, occasioning some disturbance to 
the circulation, especially when the head is held down, as it is at grass. 
The éreatment consists in cold applications as long as there is heat, the 
lotion recommended at page 470 being generally useful. When the heat 
has subsided, and the vein remains enlarged, the biniodide of mercury 
will procure the absorption of the new deposit, by rubbing it in as recom- 
mended at page 456. 
FIRING. 
THE PURPOSE for which the heated iron is employed is twofold ; first, 
to produce immediate counter-irritation, by which the previous inflamma- 
tion is reduced ; and secondly, to cause the formation of a tight compress 
over the part, which lasts for some months. It is the fashion to deny the 
existence of the latter effect of this operation ; but every practical man must 
be aware that it follows upon firing to a greater or less extent, according to 
circumstances, but always lasting for a few months, until the skin stretches 
to its previous condition. The blemish which it leaves, and the pain which 
it occasions, both during and after the application of the irons, should 
cause it to be avoided when any equally useful substitute can be employed ; 
but, unfortunately, there are many cases where it stands without a rival, 
as being at once the safest and the most efficient remedy which can be 
adopted. Blisters and setons can be made to cause the same amount of 
counter-irritation ; but the inflammation accompanying the former often 
extends beneath the skin, and increases the mischief it was intended to 
relieve ; while the latter has no effect whatever in producing pressure 
upon the parts beneath. The pain of firing can be relieved entirely at 
the time of the operation by chloroform ; but the subsequent smarting is 
quite as bad, and this is beyond the reach of any anesthetic. Inde- 
pendently, however, of the interests of the master, it is also to the advan- 
tage of the horse to get thoroughly cured ; for if he is not, he will either 
work on in misery, or he will be consigned to the knacker’s yard ; and, 
therefore, the adoption of the most efficacious plan of treatment, even if 
somewhat the most painful, is the best for both. 
FIRING MAY BE PERFORMED STANDING, by the use of the side line for the 
hind leg, or by fixing up one fore leg when the other is to be operated on. 
There is, however, nothing like the break or trevis, where more than 
a slight extent of surface is to be lined. The firing-iron should have a 
smooth edge, about the thickness of a worn shilling ; and it should be 
heated to the point when it shows a dull red in the dark. When the 
disease for which the irons are used is slight, the skin should not be 
penetrated ; but in bad cases, where the mischief is great, and particularly 
when it is wanted to have a.good permanent bandage, the cauterization 
must be deeper; but this requires some practical knowledge to decida 
