DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 173 



according to the degree of heat ; to burn into the skin until the line 

 produced by the iron is of a brown colour, rather light than dark, and 

 by all means avoid penetrating the skin. Leaving the additional 

 cruelty of deep firing out of the question, we may depend on it that, if 

 the skin is burned through, inflammation, and ulceration, and sloughing 

 will ensue, which will be with much difficulty combated; which will 

 unavoidably leave unnecessary blemish, and which have destroyed 

 many valuable horses. It may happen, nevertheless, that by a sudden 

 plunge of the animal, the skin will be unavoidably cut through. The 

 act of firing requires much skill and tact, and the practitioner cannot be 

 always on his guard against the' struggles of the tortured beast. It will, 

 also, and not unfrequently occur, that the skin, partially divided, will 

 separate in two or three days after the operation. This must not be 

 attributed to any neglect or unskillfulness of the surgeon, and the ulce- 

 ration thus produced will be slight, and easily treated, compared with 

 that caused by the actual burning through of the skin. 



Some practitioners blister immediately after firing. As a general 

 usage, it is highly to be reprobated. It is wanton and useless cruelty; 

 but it may be required in bony tumors of considerable extent, and 

 long standing, and interfering materially with the action of the neigh- 

 boring joint. Spavin, accompanied by much lameness, and ring-bone 

 spreading round the coronet, and involving the side cartilages, or the 

 pastern-joint, may justify it. The inflammation is rendered more in- 

 tense, and of considerably longer duration. In old affections of the 

 round bone it may be admitted, but no excuse can be made for it in 

 slighter cases of sprain, or weakness, or staleness. 



On the day after the operation, it will be prudent gently to rub some 

 neat's-foot oil or lard over the lines. This will soften the skin, and 

 render it less likely to separate or ulcerate ; a bandage would add to 

 the irritation of the part. Any cracks of the skin, or ulceration that 

 may ensue, must be treated with the calamine ointment already recom- 

 mended. 



It will be evident that there is an advantage derived from firing to 

 which a blister can have no pretension. The skin, partially destroyed 

 by the iron, is reinstated and healed, not merely by the formation of 

 some new matter filling up the vacuity, but by the gradual drawing to- 

 gether and closing of the separated edges. The skin, therefore is 

 lessened in surface ; it is tightened over the part, and it acts as a salutary 

 and permanent bandage. Of the effect of pressure in removing enlarge- 

 ments of every kind, as well as giving strength to the part to which it 

 is applied, we have repeatedly spoken; and it is far from being the 

 least valuable effect of the operation of firing, that by contracting the 

 skin, it affords a salutary, equable, and permanent pressure. It was on 

 this principle, but the practice cannot be defended, that colts which 

 were not very strong on the legs, used to be fired round the fetlock, and 

 along the back sinews, or over the hock, to brace and strengthen the 

 parts. It is on the same principle that a racer or a hunter, that has be- 

 come stale and stiff, is sometimes fired and turned out. For whatever 

 reason the horse is fired, he should, if practicable, be turned out, or 

 soiled in a loose box, for three or four months at least. The full effect 



