VETERINARY OPERATIONS. 245 



opening a piece of round leather, with a hole in the middle, smeared 

 with a blistering ointment. Then plug the opening with tow, and 

 in three days, when the suppuration has begun, remove it. The 

 rowel leather is afterwards to be daily removed and cleaned. 



Blistering and Firing. 



118. Blistering answers the same purposes as setons, and is prac- 

 tised by first cutting or shaving the hair from the part, when the 

 blistering ointment (Vet. Pha. 138.) should be well rubbed in for 

 ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour. Some of the ointment after 

 the rubbing may be smeared over the part. The head of the horse 

 should now be tied up to prevent his gnawing or licking. If a neck 

 cradle be at hand, it may also for safety be put on ; in which the 

 head may be let down the third day. 



119. A neck cradle for blistered horses is very convenient for 

 other occasions also, when the mouth is to be kept from licking or 

 biting other parts ; or to keep other parts from being rubbed against 

 the head. It is of very simple construction, and may be made by a 

 dozen pieces of wood of about an inch and half diameter, as old 

 broom handles, &c. These bored at each end admit a rope to pass 

 through ; and as each is passed on, a knot may be tied to the upper 

 part of the pieces of the cradle, two inches apart ; and those which 

 form the lower part, four inches ; by which means the neck will be 

 fitted by the cradle when it is put ©n ; and the horse will be pre- 

 vented from bending his head to lick or gnaw parts to be protected. 

 When the lower parts of the legs, particularly the hinder, required 

 blistering, it is necessary to bear in mind that in gross full horses, 

 particularly in autumn, grease is very apt to follow blistering ; and 

 almost certainly if the back of the heels below the fetlock be blis- 

 tered. First, therefore, smear this part over with lard or suet, and 

 afterwards avoid touching it with the ointment. After blistering in 

 summer, the horse is often turned out before the blistered parts are 

 quite sound ; in this case guard them from flies by some kind Ox 

 covering, or they may become fly-blown : and likewise on the fourth 

 or fifth day rub into the blistered part some oil or lard to prevent the 

 skin from cracking. 



120. Sioeating or liquid blisters, (Vet. Pha. 142,) are only more 

 gentle stimulants, which are daily applied to produce the same 

 effects on a diseased part without removing the hair. Of course less 

 activity is expected ; yet as the action is repeated, they are often 

 more beneficial even than blistering itself; as in old strains and 

 stiffnesses. 



