NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE. 323 



rubbed with lard, or, what is still better, neats'-foot oil. 

 This will give a pliability to the skin, and render it less 

 liable to separate or ulcerate ; but if cracks or ulceration 

 take place, then calamine ointment must be applied to it. 

 The composition of this ointment will be found amongst 

 the medicines, in the following chapter. A bandage must 

 not be used, as it would prove injurious by irritating the 

 part. 



There can be little doubt of the superiority of firing over 

 blistering. The skin being partially destroyed by the iron, 

 is restored, and the surface lessened by its being drawn 

 together, which acts as a kind of bandage, and conse- 

 quently tightens and binds the whole parts ; 'and by 

 adding pressure is of much advantage in reducing hard and 

 callous substances. After firing, it will be found of much 

 advantage to turn out the animal to grass for three or four 

 months. It is very unsafe to work a horse for a month or 

 two after this operation, as it is likely to produce a fresh 

 inflammation, which in all probability would be worse than 

 the first. 



Firing should always be either in parallel or longitudinal 

 lines, particularly on the coronet, fetlock, and back sinews, 

 for the reason that the skin will contract, so as to form the 

 greatest uniformity of pressure. 



NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE. 



The valuable services of the horse would be in a gi^eat 

 degree circumscribed, but for the artificial protection of his 

 hoofs by an iron shoe. Without this his feet would soon 

 be battered to pieces going over our hard roads. But while 

 shoes protect his flexible horny hoofs from injury, they at 

 the same time cramp and confine them, from the inflexible 

 nature of the iron and tight nailing, which, without great 



