TIEING.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[BLTSTEUINr*. 



US from inflicting unnecessary or needless pain 

 on them ; but when, by momentary addition to 

 their suffering, years of future pain may be 

 prevented, we would not court popularity by 

 joining in decrying all painful operations. 



AVhen it is of consequence to keep up the 

 irritation, or even to increase it, which we dare 

 not do by deeper firing, or by lines too near 

 each other, blistering, immediately after, is ad- 

 missible. Such cases occur in long-continued 

 enlargements, ligamentary, or osseous diseases ; 

 but, when firing is applied to four stale ex- 

 tremities, or even to two, which present only 

 the ordinary appearance of disease, it is not 

 only unnecessary, but it is wantonly cruel. It 

 is also dangerous, and has proved destructive. 



The mode of firing difiers according to cir- 

 cumstances. The general mode adopted at the 

 Eoyal Veterinary College is in straight lines, 

 up and down the course of the hair, or in per- 

 pendicular lines ; the reasons for this are well 

 known. If it be applied as a bandage, in no 

 direction can it corrugate the skin in so eftec- 

 tive a manner, as by lines drawn inversely to 

 the action, as well as the enlargements of the 

 parts. As the principles of the firing-iron 

 have become perfectly known, it is unnecessary 

 to expatiate upon them here. 



As there are several methods of firing, so 

 are there several kinds of irons used for it, of I 

 various sliapes. The principal are, the searing- 

 iron, which is used for the tail, and wliich is 

 probably called into request more frequently j 

 than any other. Then the hudding-iron, for 

 touching cavities, and searing farcy-buds. 

 There is, also, the common firing-iron, the 

 iron to remove lampas, and some others, ac- 

 cording to the particular purposes forwhicb 

 they may be required. To practitioners these 

 are all pretty well known, and all should be 

 tolerably thick at the back to retain the heat ; 

 and, when used, should only be heated to a 

 dull-red heat. 



"Wlicn performing the operation of firing, 

 care should be taken to have a piece of board 

 near, to rub the edge of the iron on. This will 

 prevent its getting too sharp, and cutting 

 through the skin. The iron, also, by this 

 means becomes cleared of all scales, which 

 would be a very great interruption to the ope- 

 rator if he bad no means of speedily removing 

 them. 



834. 



Firing is not so simple an operation as many 

 persons are inclined to consider it ; for, if the 

 true skin is penetrated, a wound is produced, 

 and great inflammation and ulceration may 

 result, and leave a bad blemish. To prevent 

 this, if the iron be made very hot, it must bo 

 passed very quickly and lightly over the parts ; 

 then, as it gets cool, it can be drawn more at 

 leisure ; and, if the parts should not be level, 

 they must be lightly touched over again, in 

 order to make the whole look well. Eing- 

 bones, or old spavins, require the most severe 

 firing, and are even then not very successfully 

 treated. AVe have, in that case, fired a second 

 time, which, in many instances, has had the 

 desired efiect. In all cases of firing, the hair 

 must be closely clipped ofi" the parts, for the 

 smoke arising from burning is apt to confuse 

 the operator. 



AVe have heard of some operators chalking 

 out the lines first ; but we never saw such a 

 practice. After the firing is completed, a mild 

 blister ointment should be lightly applied to 

 the parts ; after which the animal should have 

 rest, and not immediately be put to work 



BLISTERING. 



Blistering is an operation of great utility, 

 and, when attended with care, it is as safe a 

 one as can be performed. It acts more as a 

 local blood-letting, if care be taken to lance 

 the vesicles as they may arise ; for, if these are 

 not quickly removed, the serum may become 

 again absorbed, and the surface restored by a 

 slight eifort of inflammation, without havinsr 

 the desired eff"ect. They then become more 

 like what is called siveating-hlisters, because 

 the cuticle, or scarf-skin, does not rise; but 

 when, by continued irritation, or by rupturing 

 the vessels, the cutis becomes exposed, suppura- 

 tion succeeds, and the part becomes thoroughly 

 blistered. 



The salutary action of blisters depends, first, 

 on the stimulus they give to the absorbents; 

 and next, on the inflammation they excite, 

 proving a counter-irritant to some other part. 

 They act in the removal of injurious deposits, 

 as enlargements arising from strains of the 

 back-sinews, or ligaments ; sometimes they do 

 good when applied to spavins or splents ; but, 

 should either of these diseases be of long 

 standing, stronger applications must be had 



