184 OPERATIONS ON THE SKIN AND CELLULAR TISSUE. 



tions, and because when they become sei'iously disabled, instead 

 of subjecting them to expensive surgical treatment, a wise pecu- 

 niary policy consigns them to the shambles where they may still 

 claim an unimpaired market value ; while a dead horse is (in 

 popular estimation, at least) held to be of no particular worth in 

 theory, that is, whatever may be the unconscious practice of un- 

 inquiring- eaters of "beef." 



It has been applied, however, in very numerous instances, by 

 Cruzel, Roche, Lubin, Festal, and especially by Lafosse, who rec- 

 ommended its apphcation in articular, muscular and tendinous 

 lameness ; for synovial dilatations, bony growths, anchylosis and 

 luxations, and also in nervous affections, epilepsy, paraplegia, va- 

 rious paralytic cases and amaurosis. 



The modus operandi is the same as that already described 

 for solipeds, although allowance must be made for the thickness 

 of the skin, which requires a deeper application, and necessitates 

 the repetition of the firing from twelve to fifteen times in the 

 same line, in order to obtain an ordinary effect. The scabs of the 

 firing generally separate in from fifteen to twenty days, and leave 

 pale rose wounds, followed by cicatrizations with a smooth sur- 

 face. The swelling of the parts, and the reactive fever following 

 the operation, is more severe, but subsides quite readily. The 

 animal must be prevented from rubbing or Hcking himself in 

 order to obviate the danger of secondary wounds with their trou- 

 blesome comphcations, as with soHpeds. 



In smaller animals cauterization is seldom resorted to. In 

 dogs, however, its apphcation is sometimes indicated in lameness 

 of the elbow, the stifle, and even the hip joints. Superficial firing 

 by points has been advantageously applied, and is recommended 

 by Peuch and Toussaint. 



Accidents or Actual Cauterization. 



To a great extent, the accidents and failures following the use 

 of the cautery result from the non-observance of the rules estab- 

 lished for the regulation of the operation, and subsequent care- 

 less and incompetent nursing. The remedy for these is too obvi- 

 ous to need mention. 



(a) Section of the Skin. — This is a very common accident, usu- 

 ally chargeable to the carelessness or incompetence of the sur- 



