SETONS. 



593 



changing the ping, if of tow ; and by cleansing it, if of 

 leather : no rowel should go undressed beyond the second 

 day, for the comfort of the horse. They are very favourite 

 applications with farriers, and therefore are frequently 

 abused, by being employed in all cases indiscriminately ; 

 they are now, however, falling into disuse, setons having 

 almost superseded them. 



SETONS 



In their action resemble a very mild form of rowel, but 

 are more convenient in their application. There is hardly 

 a part of the body where a seton may not be conveniently 

 placed : they have been put around the eye. They have 

 also been entered at the withers, and brought out between 

 the humerus and the sternum ; so extensive or so dimi- 

 nutive can they be made. In sinuous ulcers of the withers 

 and of the neck, they may be placed ; through the heels 

 in foot diseases, they have been inserted. In cavernous 

 sores they are entered at the superior part, and are brought 

 out at an inferior, so as to form a depending orifice. The 

 formation of a seton is very simple : a skein of thread, or a 

 piece of tape of a convenient size, may be used : at the one 

 end place a large knot : arm the eye of a corresponding- 

 sized seton needle with the free end of the tape ; introduce 

 this into any proposed part ; and, bringing it out at some 

 other, either make a second knot, or tie the two ends of the 

 tape together ; which last method of fastening is, however, 

 often objected to, from the danger of its catching in some- 

 thing, and being torn out, to the disfigurement of the 

 horse. When a seton is placed in a sinuous track for the 

 purpose of inflaming, it is moved twice a day frequently, 

 and moistened each time with some stimulant, as oil of 

 turpentine, tincture of aloes and of benjamin. All setons 

 require daily cleaning and moving. When they are re- 

 quired to act more quickly, the tape is infused in terebinthi- 

 nate of cantharides, or small pieces of black hellebore are 

 sewn within it. An old material composed of woollen, flax, 

 or cotton, and hair, is also used instead of tape. Setons, 

 however, are of small service in acute cases. They are 

 chiefly in use for disturbances of a chronic description. 



