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Fibroma. — A variety of Tumor. (See Tumors.) 



Firing Horses. — This is an operation which is a great favorite, 

 and in much repute amono; horse doctors. For my part, I think 

 it is not only cruel and barbarous, but unnecessary, doing no good 

 whatever, and in many cases a positive injury, the efifects of which 

 will never disappear from the legs or body while the animal lives. 

 Firing is intended by its advocates to prevent and cure spavin, 

 curbs, sprains, and ring bones, by scoring the parts with a red hot 

 iron in lines over the part that is thought will he diseased, or is 

 already so. 



Fistula. — Examjyles. Fistula of the shoulder, of the poll, poll- 

 evil (which see), and quittor or sinuses of the foot (which see). 

 Fistulas are usually deep-seated, but sometimes they are super- 

 ficial, or just under the skin. However, although we see them 

 sometimes so situated, it must be confessed that the cases are ex- 

 tremely rare. The fistula most frequent and difficult of cure is 

 always deep-seated and in the vicinity of a joint, as the poll and 

 shoulder. The reason of this is easy of explanation, for when 

 these parts get injured, and suppurative action is set up, the pus, 

 instead of pointing to the outward surface, burrows down in 

 among the loose textures, and forms sinuses or pipes, pointing in 

 several directions. Fistula differs from a simple abscess in this 

 particular, and therefore is difficult of cure. The pus secreted is 

 nearly the same. The pus in a simple abscess is secreted from, 

 and is a liquification of, the surrounding tissue ; but the pus of 

 fistula is secreted from the walls of a fibrous sack, which is formed 

 in most cases of fistula. The fistula may be open or whole, pre- 

 senting a large swelling. 



Symptoms. Pain on pressure of the parts affected, followed by 

 heat, pain, and swelling, circumscribed in shape, hard at first, and 

 becoming soft and fluctuating upon pressure by the finger — a sure 

 indication of fluid within. This swelling, from the firmness and 

 integrity of the sack and skin in which it is enclosed, does not 

 break, nor yet form sinuses that take on the character of an en- 

 cysted tumor, which does not break of its own accord, as simple 

 abscesses do. At otlier times tlie fistulous tumor breaks or opens in 

 several places, and small holes discharge pus, some to-day and 

 none to-morrow. The day the discharge is free, the pain and 



