136 MODERN FARRIER. 



74. Rowels and Setons. 



Rowels in horses are usually made in the follow- 

 ing manner : — An incision is made through the skin 

 by means of a very sharp pair of scissors, or, what 

 appears better, a sharp knife. The finger is then 

 introduced below the skin, so as to separate it from 

 the flesh all round, as far as the finger will reach. 

 A piece of leather, about the size of a crown-piece, 

 and of a circular form, with a hole cut in the middle, 

 is then inserted between the skin and muscles, hav- 

 ing been first anointed with some stimulating oint- 

 ment. A small piece of tow or caddice, spread with 

 the same ointment, is put over the hole in the centre 

 of the leather ; the skin is laid down over all, and 

 the part is covered with a pledget, also covered with 

 ointment, to keep out the external air. 



The leather is left in this situation for two or 

 three days, during which the parts adjoining the 

 rowel swell, and at the end of the time there appears 

 a discharge of a yellowish matter, w^hich gradually 

 becomes thicker and whiter. In three days at far- 

 thest the part must be examined^ and the plug re- 

 moved from the central hole, to allow the matter to 

 flow out. The rowel is now complete, and may be 

 continued as long as shall be found necessary. The 

 action of the rowel is easily explained ; the leather 

 introduced excites a degree of inflammation between 

 the skin and the flesh, and no means being taken to 

 check this, it goes on like most other inflammations 

 of fleshy parts, to suppuration. Thus a discharge is 

 produced from the part, which is found to have 

 considerable effect in checking inflammation of 

 some more important organ near which the rowe! 

 has been inserted. 



Rowels may be placed in most of the fleshy parts 

 of the body ; but they are most commonly inserted 

 in the belly, the breast, the inside of the thighs, the 



