ANTISEPTIC FIRING. 



163 



cautions are necessary. The cleaner the skin the less the danger 

 of after-infection. For this reason, when firing in deep points, the 

 writer usually applies over the whole area of operation a dressing 

 wetted with 5 per cent, carbolic solution, which is allowed to remain 

 in position for twenty -four hours, and to become dry by evaporation. 

 It is removed immediately before operation, and is afterwards replaced 

 by a dry dressing of boric acid and surgical cotton wool supported 

 by a bandage. Where the points are less deeply introduced it suffices 

 to smear the parts freely with boro-glyceride after operation, omitting 

 the cotton wool, etc. No blister 

 is used. In applying the iron to 

 certain regions where the skin is 

 very mobile, it is well, if casting 

 is necessary, to mark the outlines 

 of the surfaces to be fired before- 

 hand. Quiet horses are usually 

 fired in a standing position, a 

 twitch being applied to the nose, 

 and the foot lifted to prevent 

 accident. In more extensive 

 operations the parts may be 

 rendered insensitive by subcu- 

 taneous injection of cocaine, or 

 by the application of an elastic 

 bandage or cord. 



The most convenient appara- 

 tus for controlling animals when 

 being fired is undoubtedly the 

 operating table previously de- 

 scribed. Firing, however, is 

 often necessary when no such 

 table is at hand and the animal 



must be put down. In operating on the external surface of a 

 limb, the horse is cast on the opposite side. If the application 

 is made around a joint, the animal should be cast on the 

 diseased side and the inner face of the limb first operated on. 

 In firing two limbs, the external surface of the one limb and the 

 internal of the other are first completed, and when turning the animal 

 over provision must be made against the cauterised surfaces being 

 soiled or bruised. 



Various manoeuvres are sometimes necessary. As a rule the 

 limb to be fired is left in the hobbles, while the opposite limb is 



Fig. 217. — Automatic petroleum furnace 

 and protecting hood for heating firing 

 irons. 



