168 SUBCUTANEOUS CAUTERISATION. 



rested in a strawyard for two or three months. In injuries to the 

 tendons, in spavin lameness, and some other conditions such rest is 

 absolutely essential. 



The operation may be complicated in various ways. Thus the 

 skin may be divided and a gaping wound produced ; capillary 

 haemorrhage may result, or the fired surfaces may be torn. Such 

 results may, however, be avoided by reasonable care. Loss of skin 

 and the formation of large cicatrices following too severe a use of 

 the iron are more serious. When such results threaten means must 

 at once be taken to prevent sloughing. The frequent application 

 of the cold spray is one of the most common methods ; if conjoined 

 with an antiseptic lotion it is more useful, it cleanses the parts, and 

 removes the irritating exudate which aggravates the inflammatory 

 symptoms. Lotions, astringent compresses moistened with weak 

 acetate of lead, or alum solution, and a paste, made with calamine 

 and boiled water, have also been recommended. Lukewarm anti- 

 septic baths followed by dusting with iodoform or a mixture of iodo- 

 form and tannin are preferable. Nocard highly recommends spraying 

 with an ethereal solution of iodoform. He says that it abolishes 

 suppuration, and checks the microbic infection of the wounds resulting 

 from the removal of the scabs. Haemorrhage resulting from puncture 

 of a vein or arteriole by the needle is without danger. It either 

 ceases spontaneously, or can be stopped by a tampon of wadding, 

 or by applying a compress powdered with iodoform. 



Subcutaneous cauterisation, recommended in Italy, appears to 

 present no marked advantages, and may be dismissed here with the 

 statement that the skin is first divided, the edges held apart, and the 

 globular-headed iron applied directly to the deep-seated structures 

 thus exposed. 



In times past it was not unusual to fire sound horses with the idea of 

 preventing the formation of ring-bones, spavins, etc. Needless to 

 say, such a course is not only inhuman but absolutely useless. 



XII. SETONING. 



Formerly setons were frequently used as counter-irritants in the 

 treatment of muscular atrophy, lameness of the hip or shoulder, 

 spavin, and navicular disease. In current practice setons are mainly 

 employed to establish drainage of abscess cavities, sinuses, 

 and lacerated wounds in process of healing. As, however, many 

 practitioners have faith in the value of setoning in the treatment 



