576 THE HORSE. 
The hair of the part should be cut very closely with the scissors, or 
shaved; then, having secured the leg, the iron is to be steadily but 
rapidly passed in parallel lines over the skin, making just the proper 
pressure which is required to burn to the requisite depth. A light brown 
mark should be left, which shows that the proper effect has been pro- 
duced ; and the colour should be uniform, unless it is desired to penetrate 
deeper at certain parts, which is sometimes practised with advantage. 
The lines are sometimes made in a slanting direction round the leg, and 
at others straight up and down; but it is useless to describe the details of 
this operation, which can only be learned by watching its performance by 
another hand. Badly done firing is always an eyesore; but when the 
lines are evenly drawn, and they have healed without any sloughs, caused 
by irregular or excessive pressure, they show that a master-hand has been 
at work, and that the poor beast has been treated scientifically. In very 
severe diseases, a blister is sometimes applied over the part, immediately 
after the firing ; but this can seldom be required, and as it aggravates the 
pain tenfold, it should be avoided, if possible. On the following day, e 
little neat’s-foot oil should be gently rubbed, or brushed with a feather, over 
the leg; and this should be repeated daily, until the swelling which comes 
on has nearly subsided. Less than three months’ rest should never be 
allowed for the operation to have its full effect, as, if the horse is put to 
work before that time has elapsed, the disease will almost certainly return. 
Indeed, it is far better to allow double this time, especially if the horse is 
wanted for fast work. 
SETONS AND ROWELS. 
SETONS are pieces of tape or lamp cotton, passed through and beneath 
the skin, leaving the two ends hanging out, either tied together or with a 
knot upon each. The latter is the safer plan, as the loop is always liable 
to be caught on a hook or other projecting body. The needle with which 
the passage is effected has a spear point, slightly turned up, and an eye at 
the other end (see fig. 10), through which the tape or cotton is threaded. 
Fic. 10.—SEToN NEEDLES, ONE-QUARTER SIZE. 
The ordinary one is about nine or ten inches long, and by its means 
a tape or piece of lamp cotton, smeared with blister cerate, may be passed 
through a long track of the cellular membrane, by pinching up the skin 
into a fold, and piercing this close to the body with the needle, which is 
then to be carried straight through. On drawing the tape out of the eye, 
it must be tied in a large knot at each end, which will prevent its slipping 
out. In three or four days, a profuse discharge will come on, and it must 
be kept up, if necessary, by repeated applications of blister cerate, or 
digestive ointment, as may be necessary. The ends should be sponged 
occasionally, to remove the accumulated matter. 
A SMALLER CURVED NEEDLE, about five or six inches long (see lower 
figure, 10) is used for introducing a seton into the frog, cr beneath the eye. 
For the former operation, a twitch is first applied, and the foot is then 
