120 REMEDIES FOR SPAVIN. 



right in my conjecture, finding that the same thing took place 

 from firing without any subsequent blistering, and even from using 

 a blister which I knew to be properly prepared. This I found 

 to proceed from the discharge issuing from the cauterized or 

 blistered surface becoming dry and hard, adhering so firmly to 

 the hair tliat the confined matter or pus underneath produced, in 

 many instances, deep ulceration, frightful sores, and consequent 

 destruction of the roots of the hair ; circumstance.^ which induced 

 me to adopt a different mode of procedure, in order to prevent a 

 recurrence of the evil, and relieve myself from the too frequent 

 annoyance I had experienced on this head. 



" My mode of treatment, although simple, will be found to be 

 very efficacious in preventing the disfigurement above alluded to. 

 At the expiration of a week from the time of operating (or sooner 

 if the legs have ceased to discharge, and are becoming dry and 

 hard), I make my patient stand in a tub of warm water, or foment 

 the legs for an hour and a half, or two hours, every day; carefully 

 removing from time to time the sloughs and scurf, and discharge, 

 and applying a little common oil or lard, which it is of conse- 

 quence to do before the surface gets quite dry, in order to keep the 

 parts soft and pliable, as well as to facilitate the removal of the 

 sloughs and scabs, or inspissated discharges. In the course of a 

 week, under this treatment, the sloughs will separate. 



" In the event of any superabundant granulations, I have re- 

 course to the sulphate of zinc, or sulphate of copper, in solution, &c. 



'' When perfectly healed and free from scurf, I prefer a loose 

 box to the grass field for a fortnight or three weeks, making use 

 of wet bandages, physic, &c., occasionally leading my patient out 

 to stretch his legs, as circumstances may dictate." 



My own practice is, as soon as the period arrives for foment- 

 ation, to have the fired parts daily cleansed by bathing with warm 

 water, and afterwards besprinkled with common (baker's) flour : 

 that, in consequence of being of itself an astringent as well as an 

 absorbent, rendering the use of any lotion or other application, 

 unless in cases assuming an unhealthy aspect, unnecessary. 



I likewise quite agree with my relation in his concluding para- 

 graph about the expediency of turning horses out at such a period 



