Sprain or Clap in the Back-Sinew, . 35 



I am now speaking to facts as they apply to practice, and not 

 arguing on a point of theory, otherwise it would be very easy to 

 shew, that no opinion can be less tenable than that which inculcates 

 the elasticity of Tendons, which are well known by Physiologists, 

 to be inelastic cords, possessing when in health, little or no sensibi-' 

 lity. 



The principle therefore, upon which firing acts is not by 

 constringing or bracing the Tendon, but by stimulating the 

 absorbents, and rousing up in them such increased action and 

 energy, as enables them to remove the thickened morbid condition 

 of the skin and cellular membrane. Nevertheless, but small advan- 

 tage can be expected to be derived from this operation, unless the 

 animal be <inabled to use a good deal of slow voluntary motion, for 

 a very considerable space of time after it. But it happens now and 

 then, that the impatience of the parties concerned, precludes en- 

 tirely, or in part at least, the advantage which would otherwise re- 

 sult from the operation. 



For I have known several instances where Horses have been put 

 to work in a month or five weeks after firing, in which cases the 

 swelled and thickened state of the parts, instead of being lessened 

 "Was increased by the effect of the Cautery. Indeed, the length of 

 time that the process of absorption continues to go on in diseased 

 partsj after the application of the actual Cautery, can hardly be be- 

 lieved, except by those who have had an opportunity of noticing 

 facts upon a very large scale, and are qualified at the same time to 

 draw the proper inferences, from the observation of tbose facts. 

 And although the moderate exercise which a Horse voluntarily takes 

 ^>hilst at grass, be admirably calculated to assist the curative inten- 



