avery's own farrier. 251 



firing and blistering. 



Firing consists in the application of a red hot iron to 

 the skin, but should never be used so as to reach throup^h 

 the skin. The violent inflammation thus occasioned, 

 rouses the absorbents into action, to that extent, that 

 callous and bony swellings may sometimes be removed 

 by it. Before the iron is used, the hair should be shaved 

 from the part intended to be fired. And after the opera- 

 tion is over, the part fired should be rubbed with some 

 blistering ointment, and the horse should be properly 

 secured to prevent his biting it. After four days, apply 

 a little oil, and when the incrustation formed by the 

 blister is sufficiently softened to be removed, wash all off 

 with soap and warm water, and if necessary the blister 

 may be repeated after ten days. 



Firing, used as formerly, w-as resorted to for the pur- 

 pose of curing spavins, curbs, ringbones, windgalls, and 

 old callous swellings of the back sinews — the consequence 

 of strains. It was also employed to strengthen the 

 hocks and back sinews of colts, to prevent strains and 

 breaking down; it was thought that it did this, by thick- 

 ening and contracting the skin, so as to act as a per- 

 manent bandage. This may be all true, and have been 

 of considerable use to some in former days, and may 

 possibly be of use to some at the present day. But if 

 the astringents as given heretofore in this work, should 

 answer every purpose of the hot iron (or firing), there 

 will be no need of subjecting the animal to this torture 

 and cruelty. Fpr it is certainly attended with less 



