LAMENESS IN THE HIND LEG 241 



wound wliieli usually becomes infected and necrosis of tissue may 

 extend into the articulation. No benefit results from sloughing 

 and it should be avoided. In small horses, one deep point of 

 cauterization is sufficient if the osseous tissues are penetrated to 

 a proper depth so that an active inflammation is induced. The 

 cautery may, if necessary, be reintroduced several times. When 

 the field of operation has been properly prepared and it is 

 thought advisable (as where subjects are kept in the hospital for 

 a time), the hock may be covered with cotton and bandaged and 

 no chance for infection w^ill occur. 



After cauterization the subject should be kept quiet in a com- 

 fortable stall for three wrecks; thereafter, if the animal is not 

 too playful, the run of a paddock may be allowed for about ten 

 days and a protracted rest of a month or more at pasture is 

 best. It is unwise in the average case to put an animal in 

 service earlier than two months after having been "fired." 



Where cases progress favorably, lameness subsides in about 

 three weeks after cauterization and little if any recurrence of 

 the impediment is manifested thereafter. However, because of 

 violent exercise taken in some instances when subjects are put 

 out after being confined in the stall, a return of lameness occurs 

 and it may remain for several days or in some cases become per- 

 manent. No good comes from the use of blistering ointments 

 immediately after cauterization. The actual cautery is a means 

 of producing all necessary inflammation and it should be so em- 

 ployed that sufficient reactionary inflammation succeeds such 

 firing. The use of a vesicating ointment subsequent to cauteriza- 

 tion invites infection because of the dust that is retained in con- 

 tact with the w^ound. The employment of irritating chemicals 

 in a liquid form following firing is needless and cruel. 



In many instances lameness is not relieved and subjects show 

 no improvement at the end of six weeks time and it then becomes 

 a question of whether or not recovery is to be expected even with 

 continued rest and treatment. As a rule, such cases are unfavor- 

 able. In one instance the author employed the actual cautery 

 three times during the course of six months and lameness gradu- 

 ally diminished for a year. In this case the spavin was of nearly 

 one year's standing when treatment was instituted. The sub- 



