FIRING. 435 



always on his guard against the struggles of the tortured beast. It will, also, 

 and not unfrequently, occur that the skin, partially divided, will separate in two 

 or three days after the operation. This must not be attributed to any neglect 

 or unskilfulness of the surgeon, and the ulceration thus produced will be slight 

 and easily treated, compared with that caused by actually burning through 

 the skin. 



A very considerable change has taken place in the breed of many of the 

 varieties of the horse, and the labour exacted from him. As illustrations of 

 this we refer to the altered character and pace of the modern hunter and the addi- 

 tional increase of speed required from the coach and the post horse ; the exertion 

 being limited only by the degree to which every muscle and every nerve can be 

 extended, while the calculation between the utmost exaction of cruelty and the 

 expenditure of vital power, is reduced to the merest fraction. The consequence 

 of this is, that the horse is subjected to severer injuries than he used to be, 

 and severer measures are and must be employed to remedy the evil. Hence 

 the horrible applications of the actual cautery to the horse that have dis- 

 graced the present day. Lesions gashes have been made on either side of the 

 tendon of the leg, which it took no fewer than seven months to heal. Was there 

 nothing short of this lengthened torture that could have been done to relieve 

 the victim ? Could he not have been more lightly fired for the road or for the 

 purposes of breeding ? Was there no pasture on which he had earned a right 

 to graze ? or could he not have been destroyed ? These sad lesions will occa- 

 sionally come before the practitioner and the owner. It will be for the first, 

 to advocate that, which, on a careful view of the case, mercy prompts ; and the 

 latter, except there is a reasonable prospect of ultimate enjoyment, as well as 

 usefulness, should never urge a continuation of suffering. 



Supposing, however, that prospect to exist, the surgeon must discharge his 

 duty. These gashes, after a while, begin to close, and then commences the beau- 

 tiful process of granulation. Little portions of the integument form on the centre 

 of the wound, and the sides of the wound creep closer together, and the skin 

 steals over the surface, until the chasm is perfectly closed. In order to 

 insure the continuance of this, a ridge of contracted integument as hard as any 

 cartilage, but without its elasticity, runs from one end of the lesion to the other, 

 tighter, and harder, and more effectual every week, and month, and year, and 

 lasting during the life of the animal. Therefore, the veterinary surgeon is not 

 to be too severely censured, if, after due consideration, he is induced to under- 

 take one of these fearful operations : but let him do it as seldom as he can, and 

 only when every circumstance promises a favourable result. 



Some practitioners blister immediately after firing. As a general usage it is 

 highly to be reprobated. It is wanton and useless cruelty. It may be required 

 in bony tumours of considerable extent, and long standing, and interfering 

 materially with the action of the neighbouring joint. Spavin accompanied by 

 much lameness, and ring-bone spreading round the coronet and involving the 

 side cartilages or the pastern joint, may justify it. The inflammation is ren- 

 dered more intense, and of considerably longer duration. In old affections of 

 the round bone it may be admitted, but no excuse can be made for it in slighter 

 cases of sprain or weakness, or staleness. 



On the day after the operation, it will be prudent gently to rub some neat's 

 foot oil, or lard over the wound. This will soften the skin, and render it lesslikelj 

 to separate or ulcerate. A bandage would add to the irritation of the part. Any 

 cracks of the skin, or ulcerations that may ensue, must be treated with the cala* 

 mine ointment. 



It will be evident that there is an advantage derived from firing to which a 

 blister can have no pretension. The skin, partially destroyed by the iron, is 



F P 2 



