142 The Care of Animals 



part. It is thought that puncturing sets up a deeper 

 inflammation. 



After the horse is confined, the operator makes a 

 series of parallel lines or punctures about three -fourths 

 of an inch apart over the affected area. In line -firing, 

 the lines usually run obliquely on the legs, so that the 

 marks will not show as plainly after recovery as they 

 would if running vertically or horizontally. At first, 

 the operator barely touches the skin with the firing- 

 iron, marking out his work; later the lines are burned 

 to a good russet brown by drawing the hot firing- 

 iron through the former lines. In feather -firing, the 

 lines should not cut through the skin. After firing, 

 a flj^-blister should be rubbed on the fired area, and the 

 case treated as an ordinary case of blistering. After 

 firing, the horse should be given plenty of time for rest 

 and recovery. "Fire, blister and turn out to grass," is 

 a common expression among horsemen. 



FOMENTATIONS 



Fomentations are applications of hot or cold water 

 to a part. The application is usually from twenty 

 minutes to half an hour. The water may be applied 

 as hot as can be comfortably borne, and the tempera- 

 ture can be kept up by adding hot water frequently. 

 The water can be applied to the part with sponges, 

 cloths, or even with the hands, while, at the same time, 

 the part is gently rubbed. Fomentations should be 

 applied two or three times daily. They are much used 

 to lessen acute inflammation, pain and swelling of 



