SETONS. 157 



sinuses, the surgeon (if he does not lay the place entirely 

 open with a knife, which, if the sinuses are deep-seated, 

 he will do) will insert the seton-needle at such orifice, 

 no incision with the scissors being necessary, the direc- 

 tion of the sinuses having been first ascertained by the 

 careful use of the probe. The dressing to be applied 

 to the tape will be either chloride of zinc lotion, Venice 

 turpentine, or tincture of arnica lotion (see " Lotions"), 

 according as the healing or discharging process may 

 be desired, the first being the healing application. 

 Farriers attempting this operation will even now adopt 

 an old and most objectionable practice of tying the two 

 ends of the seton-tape together, and turning it round 

 at each fresh dressing ; the consequence being that, if 

 anything happen to catch in the loop thus made, the 

 whole piece of skin may be dragged out. 



