THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 127 



thrusting out of his head and nose in a very awkward 

 and ugly position. 



The scalpel is now called into action ; and having 

 cast the horse, as the safest method of proceeding to 

 work, examine most carefully every part; to effect 

 which the lateral opening must be enlarged, and if 

 caries of the bones have taken place, they must be 

 scraped or taken out, as found necessary. All hard 

 edges must be taken away, and the small sinuses opened, 

 to prevent new tumours forming. These operations 

 should, however, be performed by skilful surgeons, for 

 common farriers may do considerable mischief. Ac- 

 tive escharotics must be used in most cases of obstinate 

 Pole Evil ; the following are recommended : — 

 Lunar Caustic - - - 2 drachms. 

 Water - _ - - 3 ounces. 



Or, 



Corrosive Sublimate - - 2 drachms. 

 Water - - - - 2^ ounces. 



Inject either of these into the sinuses. In mild cases 

 the terebinthinated tincture of cantharides has answered 

 well in procuring a healthy action. 



In extreme cases, however humanity may recoil 

 from the practice of cruelty and rail at the operations 

 of those of the old school, yet there are many cases 

 which even at this day require us to resort eventually 

 to their systems. The method of scalding is the last 

 resort as a cure to the ravages of the Pole Evil ; and 

 perhaps, indeed, painful as this may be at the time, it 

 is often preferable to the frequent use of active escha- 

 rotics, or the eventual use of the pole axe. 

 Take- 

 Arsenic, (powdered finely) - 2 drachms. 

 Basilicon - - - - 4 ounces. 

 Or, 



