SETONS AND ROWELS 



629 



pressure, they shov/ that a master hand has been at work, and that the poor 

 beast lias been treated scientifically. In very sevei'e diseases, a blister is 

 sometimes applied over the part, immediately after the firing ; 

 but this can seldom be required, and as it aggravates the 

 pain tenfold, it should be avoided, if possible. On the follow- 

 ing day, a little ncat's-foot oil should be gently rubbed, or 

 brushed with a feather, over the leg ; and this should be 

 repeated daily, until the sAvelling which comes on has nearly 

 subsided. Less than three months' rest should never be allowed 

 for the operation to have its full effect, as, if the horse is put 

 to work before that time has elapsed, the disease will almost 

 certainly return. Indeed, it is far better to allow double this 

 time, especially if the horse is wanted for fast work. 



SETONS AND ROWELS 



Setons are pieces of tape or other material, passed through 

 and beneath the skin, leaving the two ends hanging out, either 

 tied together or with a knot upon each. The latter is the 

 safer plan, as the loop is always liable to be caught on a 

 hook or other projecting body. The needle with which the 

 passage is effected has a spear point, slightly turned up, and 

 an eye at the other end (see Fig. Ill), through which the 

 tape or cotton is threaded. They are made in all sizes, and by 

 their means a tape, smeai'ed with blister cerate, may be passed 

 through a long track of the cellular membrane, by pinching up 

 the skin into a fold, and piercing this close to the body with 

 the needle, which is then to be carried straight through. On 

 drawing the tape out of the eye, it must be tied in a large 

 knot at each end, which will prevent its slipping out. In 

 three or four days a profuse discharge will come on, and it 

 must be kept up, if necessary, by repeated applications of 

 blister cerate, or digestive ointment, as may be necessary. The 

 ends should be sponged occasionally, to remove the accumulated 

 matter. 



A SMALLER CURVED NEEDLE, about five or six iuches long, is 

 used for introducing a seton into the frog, or beneath the eye. 

 For the former operation, a twitch is first applied, and the 

 foot is then buckled up to the arm, as described at page 622. 

 The needle then, armed with the tape, greased with blister 

 cerate, and a little oil to lubricate the surface, is thrust in at 

 the heel, and out at the cleft of the frog, taking care not 

 to go deep enough to wound the tendon as it passes over 

 the navicular bone. The needle is then forcibly drawn through, 

 and the tape knotted, as already described. The openings 

 must be kept clean by sponging daily; and in three or four 

 weeks the tape will have nearly worked its way out, when it 

 may be withdrawn. 



Frog setoning is now rarely px^actised. 



