APPLICATIONS OF FIRING. 



iig 



indolent ulcers, and poisoned wounds, in the treatment of tumours 

 and septic engorgements, and to check haemorrhage. Distinc- 

 tions have been made between mediate and immediate, super- 

 iicial and deep or penetrating firing. In mediate cauterisation, a 

 glowing iron is brought close to the spot to be acted on so that the 

 parts are merely heated by radiation ; in immediate cauterisation, the 

 instrument is brought in actual contact with the tissues. Surface firing, 

 ;. e. firing extended areas all over, and the application of burning 

 pastilles (moxas) are now entirely abandoned. 



The only methods at present used are (i) superficial firing in the form 

 of points or lines, the instrument not passing deeper than the epidermis 

 itself; (2) deep firing in fine points, where the skin is penetrated at 



Fig. 148.-— Degive's apparatus ready for action. The reservoir in the handle is 

 filled with sponge saturated with benzine vapour. The bellows pump air 

 through this reservoir. The stream of benzine-laden air is mixed with a stream 

 of pure air controlled by the two-way tap at the base of the handle, and burns 

 with an intensely hot blue flame in the hood. The tap at the base of the handle 

 regulates the size of the flame, and therefore the temperature. 



one or a number of spots ; (3) needle firing, in which the instrument 

 penetrates as deep as the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, or synovial 

 sacs ; (4) subcutaneous firing, practised after the skin has been divided 

 with a knife. 



The instruments used for line firing are provided with heads 

 resembling wedges or triangular prisms. The cauterising margin 

 should be slightly convex, smooth throughout and rounded at the 

 angles ; a slight curve in the stem is thought by some to be advan- 

 tageous. With instruments of this form it is easy to follow the inequali- 

 ties of the parts and to ensure each part being subjected to the same 

 action. Fig. 144 shows the ordinary form of the English firing iron. 

 It is suitable for most purposes. The length of stem varies according 

 to whether it is intended for use on the animal in a standing position or 



