284 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



bones, or old spavins, require the most severe 

 firing ; but sometimes without success. I have 

 iu that case fired a second time, which in many 

 instances has had the desired eflFect. In all 

 cases of firing, the hair must be closely clip- 

 ped off the parts, for the smoke arising from 

 burning the hair, is apt to confuse the 

 operator. 



I have heard of some operators chalking 

 out the lines first, but must confess I never 

 saw such a practice. After you have com- 

 pleted your firing, apply mild blister ointment 

 lightly on the parts. From what 1 have said 

 aliove, relative to firing as a remedy in bony 

 and other enlargements, which require time 

 to become absorbed, or the inflammation to 

 be removed, it frequently happens that per- 

 sons having had their Horses once fired, are 

 in such a terrible hurry for them to get well, 

 that by putting them to labour too soon, they 

 irequently produce lameness again in its worst 

 form. It is from this cause I advise firing a 

 second time, which will be generally found to 

 answer. 



ON BLISTERING. 



Blistering is an operation of great utility, 

 and when attended with care, it is as safe a 

 one as can be performed. It acts more as a 

 local blood-letting, if care be taken to lance 

 the vessicles, as they may arise ; or if not 

 quickly removed, the serum may become 

 again absorbed, and trie surface restored by a 

 slight effort of inflammation, without having 

 the desired effect ; they become more like 

 what is called sweating-blisters, because the 

 cuticle, or scarf-skin does not become raised ; 

 but *vhen by continued irritation, by de- 

 nuding the skin, or by rupturing the vessels, 

 the cutis becomes exposed, suppuration suc- 



ceeds, and the part becomes thoroughly blis- 

 tered. 



The salutary action of blisters depends first 

 on the stimulus they give to the absorbents, 

 and next on the inflammation they excite, 

 proving a counter-irritant to some other part. 

 Blisters act in the removal of injurious deposits, 

 as enlargements arising from strains of the 

 back-sinews, or ligaments ; sometimes ihey 

 do good when applied to spavins or splents ; 

 but should either of the above be of long 

 standing, stronger applications must be had 

 recourse to, or the milder blisters used, and 

 repeated every day. Mercurial ointment, well 

 rubbed in on any bony excrescence, for a day 

 or two previous to applying the blister, will 

 greatly tend to promote the absorption of the 

 offending parts. 



In inflammatory affections, we find blisters of 

 great importance, actino: as counter-irritants ; 

 for it appears singular, tiiat two inflamma- 

 tions seldom exist in the neighbourhood of 

 each other ; therefore, when such an affection 

 has taken place in any part, and we wish to 

 remove it, we raise an artificial inflammation 

 in the neighbourhood by means of blisters. 

 Therefore, in inflammatory affections of the 

 lungs and bowels, &c., it is proper to blister 

 the chest, belly, &c., by which means the 

 inflammatory action may be removed from the 

 vital organs, to parts of less importance ; for 

 if you blister a Horse affected with inflamed 

 lunjrs, either in the chest or belly, and if the 

 blister does not properly rise, the Horse from 

 debility will die ; consequently shewing that 

 the system requires rousing, though inflam- 

 mation is going on so strong. The blister 

 ointment generally ought to be bought at the 

 drusfffists, as it is sometimes made of such an 

 irritating nature, that the poor Horse is put to 



