MODERN FitRRIER. 119 



sinews, and in windgalls. For this purpose the 

 irons are used as ah*eady directed. It is the custom 

 with some farriers to apply a blister in these cases 

 before firing, in order to reduce the swelling; as 

 they suppose that filing, employed without this 

 precaution, would tend to fix the swelling, and ren- 

 der it incurable. There is probably little foundation 

 for such an idea. 



4th, Firing is very frequently had recourse to by 

 way of a styptic, in stopping or checking profuse 

 bleedings, from accidental wounds, or surgical ope- 

 rations. The iron employed with this view has ge- 

 nerally a rounded extremity, except in the operation 

 of docking, where an iron in the form of a ring is 

 generally employed. 



5th, Another use of firing is in w^ounds of the 

 oints, or other circumscribed cavities, where it is 

 employed to promote a kindly circulation, and con- 

 sequent granulation of healthy flesh. It has been 

 employed in these cases by IVIr. Coleman, with con- 

 dderable success. 



6th, Firing has been found one of the most effec- 

 ! ual remedies in those superficial ulcers that accom- 

 i )any farcy or glanders in the horse ; and, 

 1 Lastly, The use of the hot iron has been found 

 ' he only certain means of preventing the dreadful 

 effects arising from the bite of a mad animal, when 

 )roperly applied after cutting out the bitten part. 



69. Docking. 



This absurd and inhuman practice is thought to 

 |iave originated in this country. The operation is 

 lever performed amongst the Arabians and other 

 astern nations. It is undoubtedly a strange in- 

 tance of prejudice and false taste to deprive horses 

 f such a fine ornament, which has evidently been 

 esigned by nature as a protection against flies, 

 nats, and innumerable other winged enemies, which 





