SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 266 



Spanish flies. Caeaper substitutes are used, but they irritate vio- 

 lently. In extensive inflammatory affections, they are, on this 

 account, perfectly inadmissible ; and wherever a case requires any 

 thing more, it will be noted. The mode of blistering with the 

 Spanish fly is sufficiently known. The hair should be cut or shorn 

 as close as possible from around the part; the blistering matter 

 should then be well rubbed in for ten or fifteen minutes. If the 

 pasterns and fetlocks are the parts to be blistered, previous to rub- 

 bing in the ointment, smear some lard, tallow, or melted suet over 

 the heels, and within the hollow at the back of the small pastern. 

 This will Dften prevent some troublesome sores forming, from the 

 blistering ointment falling on these sensitive parts. While a blis- 

 ter is acting, the litter should be removed from under the feet, or 

 it will tickle the legs and irritate ; but, above all, the head ought 

 to be most carefully secured, for two days and nights, to oppose 

 lying down, more especially to prevent the horse biting the blis- 

 tered part. On the third evening he may be permitted to repose 

 but a prevention should even then be continued, by means of what 

 hi called a cradle. This apparatus may be bought at every turn- 

 ing shop, or may be made of eight or ten pieces of round wood, 

 an inch and a half in diameter, and two feet long. These are 

 strung at each end on a rope, and fastened around the neck. 

 AMien it is intended to blister repeatedly, the effects of the first 

 should have subsided before the second is applied, the scurf and 

 scabs also be cleared away, and the part well washed with soap 

 and water. In all cases, the third or fourth day after the applica- 

 tion the part should be thoroughly painted over, by means of a 

 long-haired brush (such as are in use with pastry-cooks to glaze 

 their crusts), with lead liniment, which should be repeated every 

 day. And when it is proposed to turn a horse out, it should never 

 be done until the whole blistered surface be quite healed ; other- 

 wise dirt, flies, etc., may prove hurtful. 



It remains to observe that, instead of repeated active blistering, 

 it is, in some cases, preferable to keep up a continual slight irrita- 

 tion on the original blister by means of stimulants, as iodine oint- 

 ment, mild blistering applications, etc. Caution is, however, 

 necessary, to avoid forming an eschar, and thereby a permanent 

 blemish ; but when a blemish is not of consequence, this plan will 

 be found often more efficacious than firing, as in splints, spavina, 

 etc. Some- practitioners blister mildly one day, and on the nexi 



