lameness: its causes and treatment. 321 



■who will tlelii<ro him with references and certificates. It is possible 

 tliat nostiunis may in some excei)ti()nal instances prove serviceai)le, 

 hut the greater number of them are capable of producing only in- 

 jurious eti'ects. The removal of the bony tumor can not be accom- 

 plished by any such means, and if a tiial of these unknown com- 

 pounds should be followed by complications no worse than the 

 establishment of one or more ujrly, hairless cicatrices, it will be 

 well for both the horse and his owner. 



l\e>t and counterirritation, with the proper medicaments, consti- 

 tute, then, the prominent points in the treatment designed for the 

 relief of bone spavin. Yet thei-e are cases in which all the agencies 

 i.iul methods referred to seem to lack effectiveness and fail to produce 

 .•satisfactory results. Either the rest has been i)rematurcly intcr- 

 rupteil or the blisters have failed to modify the serous infiltration, 

 »r the case in hand has some undiscernible characteristics which 

 seem to have rendered the disease neutral to the agencies used against 

 it. An indication of more energetic means is then presented, and 

 tree cauterization with the firing iron becomes necessary. 



At this point a word of explanation in reference to this operation 

 ».f firing may be approjjriatc for the satisfaction of any among our 

 readers who may entertain an exaggerated idea of its severity and 

 possible cruelty. 



The operation is one of simplicitx. l)ut is nevertheless one which, 

 in order to secure its benefits, must be reserved for times and occa- 

 sions of which only the best kn(»wledge and highest discretion should 

 be allowe<l t<> judge. It is not the mere apjdication of a hot iron to 

 a given i):iit of the body wliicli constitutes the operation of firing. 

 It is the methodical and M-ientific intro<luction of heat into the 

 structure with a view to a given effect \\\)(m a diseased oi'gan or 

 tissue by an exj)ert surgeon. The fii-st is one of the degrees of mere 

 biii-nijig. The othei- is scientific <auteri/.ation. and is a surgical 

 manipulation which should be committed ex(liisi\i>ly to the practiced 

 lumd of tlu' veterinary surgeon. 



Kithcr firing alone or stiuiulatioii with l)listeis is of great ellicacy 

 for the idicf of lameness from bone spavin. Failure to produce 

 relief after a few applications aixl aftci- allowing a sufficient interval 

 of ivst slmuld i>e followed by a sec<»nd or, if needed, a third firing. 



In case of further failure there is a reserve of certain special oper- 

 ations which have been tiied and recommeiuled, among which those 

 of cunean tenotomy. i)erio<teotomy. the division of nervous branches, 

 etc.. may be mentioned. These, however, belong to the i)eculiar do- 

 main of the veterinary i)ractitioner, and need not now engage our 

 attention. 



3«VI44''— 10 21 



