172 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT, 



acid, 7 oz.; stir three minutes; 50 drops of the above lini- 

 ment. Let stand five hours, stir every half hour, then add 

 7 oz. prepared chalk. 



First shave the hair off the "bunch," then apply the 

 liniment with a lather brush. Sprinkle a little of the pow- 

 der on paper, and rub on, after washing with the liniment. 

 When the bunch is reduced two-thirds, wash with warm 

 water and castile soap. In twenty-four hours grease. 



This is one of the very strongest remedies used for spavin 

 and ringbone, and if not used with great care is pretty sure 

 to blemish. I will here state that educated practitioners 

 use the milder treatment, immediately following the des- 

 cription of spavin. Properly done, the actual cautery or 

 firing is undoubtedly the best and most reliable treatment. 

 This is the treatment I use for these difficulties. Dr. Wm. 

 Somerville frequently charges $100 for curing spavins, &c., 

 on valuable horses by firing, guaranteeing not to blemish. 

 While the operation of itself is simple, it is one that requires 

 rare practical skill, and is done successfully only by a few 

 of the best practitioners. 



Youatt, one of the best of the old English authors, says 

 in regard to 



FIRIJ* G. 



Whatever seeming cruelty may attend this operation, it is, in many 

 cases, indispensable. The principle on which we have recourse to it 

 is similar to that which justifies the use of a blister; by producing 

 superficial inflammation we may be enabled to remove a deeper-seated 

 one, or we may excite the absorbents to take away any unnatural bony 

 or other tumor: it has also this additional advantage, that, while it 

 raises intenser external inflammation than we can produce by other 

 means, it is the most powerful agent that we have at our disposal. 

 Humanity, however, will dictate, that on account of inflammation which 

 it excites, and the pain which it inflicts, it should only be had recourse 

 to when milder means have failed, except in those cases in which ex- 

 perience has taught us that milder means rarely prove successful. 



The part which is to be submitted to the operation is shaved, or the 

 hair is cut from it as closely as possible with the trimming scissors. 

 This is necessary to bring the iron into immediate contact with the 

 skin, and likewise to prevent the smeke that will arise from the burned 

 hair from obscuring the view of the operator. 



The details of the operation belong to the veterinary surgeon. The 

 grand points to be attended to are to have the edge of the iron round 

 and smooth; the iron itself at, or rather below red head; to pass it 

 more or less rapidly over the skin, and with slighter or greater pressure, 



