36 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



a hand's breadth below it, which will excite a new and 

 artificial inflammation in the vicinity of the old one, and 

 thus reduce its intensity, giving a new direction to the 

 olood and humors, and concentrate a part of the nervou? 

 power on a new point. 



A seton should be tolerably thick, and from eight to 

 twelve inches long, and before inserting it, dip it into 

 spirits of turpentine, or other exciting matter. In 

 cattle, insert the needle in the upper part of the*brisket 

 or dewlap, and in the horse, in the breast, and bring it 

 out four inches or more below the place of insertion. 

 Fasten the seton by tying a large knot in each end. 



]\Iatler wiU begin to run the second day ; and after 

 that, draw the seton up and down two or three times a 

 day, to 'irritate the parts and increase the discharge. 

 When, for inflammatory diseases, or other complaints, 

 you would produce a more copious discharge, rub the 

 seton with blistering ointment. This will stimulate thr 

 parts to action, and hasten suppuration. 



Clater says that the root of the common dock is a 

 speedy and powerful seton for cattle, and the root of the 

 black hellebore is still more powerful. The American 

 hellebore, (Veratrum viride,) often called Indian poke, or 

 poke root, strongly resembles the white hellebore (Vera- 

 tum album) of Europe. Whether it is hke the black 

 hellebore here recommended, we cannot say. The 

 American hellebore, or poke root, which grows in 

 swamps, is very different from poke weed, {Phytolacca 

 decandra,) generally called garget, also cocim and 

 jalap, which grows on dry land, the root of which is 

 much used in New England, in the dewlap of cattle, 

 instead of a seton. [See Garget, under the general head 

 "Cattle."] 



When there is a considerable discharge of matter, 

 wash the place once a day in warm soap suds, and con 

 tinue this after the seton is removed, while the sore is 

 healing. 



