AS TO SOL/jVB.YESS. 127 



swept the seton needle over the part freely, you will have 

 made a pear-shaped separation of the parts. Now, by 

 means of a fine probe, introduce two or three small 

 pledgits of tow dipped in the " caustic," taking care that 

 the end of each pledgit hangs well out of the wound, that 

 it maybe caught hold of and withdrawn on the third day. 

 Neglect of this latter precaution I have twice known to 

 lead to unsightly blemishes from a piece of tow being left 

 in the cavity. The neglect of this simple precaution has 

 made one eminent veterinarian I know, discard the 

 operation in favour of the common seton. When it has 

 been successfully done, in a proper case, the size of the 

 spavin is very materially lessened if not altogether re- 

 moved, and the only evidence left is the cicatrix of a 

 clean incision, which has, however, been of necessity the 

 seat of some granulation. The strength and endurance 

 of the granulation tissue ''proud flesh" will determine 

 the character of the cicatrix which remains. When this 

 operation has been performed for roguish purposes on a 

 sound hock to make it like its spavined fellow in size, 

 to succeed, the incision has to be immediately over the 

 lower part of the seat of spavin, and not behind and 

 beneath it as is done for honest curative purposes. Low 

 class horse-dealers often try to persuade you that " the 

 'jack' is owin' to a kick from another 'os," even when 

 no mark is present over the parts ; so that you see how 

 extremely plausible such an explanation would appear 

 when you have the mark left by the operation of caustick- 

 ing over an otherwise sound hock. 



