DISEASES OF THE BONES. 767 



together, the hair grown over, leaving no visible trace of the 

 firing. After the operation the horse should be put away in a 

 box-stall. On the following day a little grease, vaseline, or oil 

 should be rubbed over the part, which will keep it soft and pre- 

 vent cracking. This may be repeated at any time afterward, 

 should it appear too dry. Should any of the cracks break and 

 threaten to make a sore, dust on a little of the magic healing 

 powder, which will stop it immediately unless very severe. No 

 bandaging or any such means should be resorted to. Simply 

 see that the horse does not bite or rub the parts. 



This method of firing is the one that has been most generally 

 used. It is very painful to the horse, and re- 

 quires considerable practice to do it well, al- 

 though there is no particular sleight or secret 

 in doing it beyond making the lines over 

 rather a large surface, and as near each other 

 as can safely be done without causing so 

 much inflammation as to extend across the 

 division and blemish by breaking or destroy- 

 ing the skin between. The next point is 

 depth of the firing. This can be learned reli- 

 ably only by practice. The deeper the firing, 

 the more extensive the inflammation pro- FIG, 666. Dots showing 

 duced, though in no case should it be carried usual number and lo- 

 deep enough to break the skin, as this will cation of punctures 

 surely cause a blemish, while in very slight 

 firing there will be proportionately less inflammation, and to that 

 degree less effective. 



THE PYRO-PUNCTURING PROCESS. 



The method of firing now found to be most effective for this 

 difficulty, and that used most generally by the best practitioners, is 

 the pyro-puncturing process. It is much easier done, more simple, 

 not so liable to blemish, and far more effective. I give two forms 

 of iron; one "representing about three-sixteenths of an inch, the 

 other about an eighth of an inch or less in diameter. The rule is, 

 the larger the iron the farther apart must the holes be made, and 

 the smaller the iron the closer together. The principle is to make 

 the punctures as near as can be done safely without producing so 



