318 CTCIiOPEDIA OP LIVE STOCK AND COMPLEIB STOCK POCTOE. 



or poultices ; raise the heels of the foot about an inch and give absolute 

 rest till all lameness and soreness are gone. Then turn him out to 

 grass or straw yard for three or four months. 



But if the spavin runs on to the second stage, in which effusion is 

 thrown out and ossification is begun, a good smart blister, well rubbed in 

 after the soreness is taken out by the hot applications, will perform good 

 work in some instances. If it is not improved by the first application 

 repeat it. The blister is made as follows : 



No, 9b yi Ounce powdered cantharides, 



2 Ounces lard, 

 Mix. 

 Also prepare 



No. 10. 2 Drachms red iodide of mercury, 



2 Ounces lard, 

 Mix. 



Mix the two blisters together and rub it well in, first cutting off the 

 hair. After twelve hours, smear fresh lard over the place. Repeat 

 the lard once a day till the scabs are all off and the skin is nearly healed ; 

 then repeat the blister, and so on till he is cured. This treatment is effec- 

 tual if begun in time and vigorously applied, and sufficient rest given 

 afterwards. It may absorb nearly all of the enlargements. If this fails, 

 or if the case is allowed to run on to the third or confirmed stage, in 

 which the lump has become thoroughl}^ ossified and the gliding joints more 

 or less incurably affected, the only hope of doing anything to any advantage 

 is to produce anchylosis (stiffness) of the joint. For when the articular 

 surface of the joint is much affected it cannot be cured and restored to 

 soundness, so the only thing to do is to stop the lameness. The most 

 effectual way to do this is to apply the actual cautery (firing iron), which 

 produces so great an amount of artificial inflammation, causes such an 

 increased flow of nutrition to the part, that, when accompanied by rest, 

 it destroys the joints that are affected, by stiffening them. There are 

 several ways of applying the firing iron, but the most common is to pass 

 the iron, with a dull edge, over the part affected, in lines running 

 obliquely each way, forwards and backwards, from a centre line drawn 

 perpendicularly from about the centre of the hock on the inside to a point 

 on the cannon about an inch and a half below the hock. Draw similar 

 lines on the front and back of the hock, and then draw the oblique lines 

 from one to the other, giving it a feathered appearance. In bad cases it 

 is advisable to fire on the outside of the hock, too, as a surer means 

 of removing the lameness, but, on account of the iron leaving scars where- 

 ever it touches, this outside application is usually objected to, unless the 

 first firing fails and it has to be repeated ; then it should always be car- 

 ried clear around. It is the opinion of some authorities that every case casj 

 be cured of lameness by repeating the firing, if necessary, half a aozei. 



