241' PHARMACOPCEIA. 



to be ascertained : but as tlie fevers of horses 

 ilo not appear to be infectious, there is no 

 great probubilitj of its proving useful. 



FIRING. We have noticed this subject 

 in the Materia Medica, but it remains to be 

 observed, that unless this operation is per- 

 formed with "ood instruments, and by a 

 skilful hand, an indelible blemish will ge- 

 nerally be the consequence. Many farriers 

 pretend to do it while a horse is standing; 

 but this should never be attempted, as it is 

 impossible in this wciy to perform the opera- 

 tion correctly, and there is always danger 

 of doing mischief. The horse should always 

 be thrown down, and properiy secured. 

 The edcre of the firiti^f iron is to be rather 

 hinner than the back of a suiall pen-knife, 

 and of a round foim. The back part of the 

 instrum> nt must be very sub>tantial, that the 

 heat may be retained a sulHcient length of 

 time. It is to be appli^'d, when of a dull 

 red heat, which in the day time is scarcely 

 perceptible. The operator is to draw it ra- 

 tijer quickly over tlic skin in perpendicular 

 lines ;* but as the iron gets a little cooler, 



* At present, prartitioners generally prefe'r 

 dravvinirtlie instiument in an oblique direction. 



