434 FIRING. 



has been lost through the excessive general irritation which this has pro- 

 duced, or its violent effect on the urinary organs, and that has been particu- 

 larly the case, when corrosive sublimate has entered into the composition of 

 the blister. 



If strangury should appear, the horse should be plentifully supplied with 

 linseed tea, which is thus best prepared— a gallon of boiling water is thrown on half 

 a pound of linseed ; the infusion suffered to stand until nearly cold, and the clean 

 mucilaginous fluid then poured off. Three-quarters of a pound of Epsom salts 

 should also be given, dissolved in a quart of water, and, after that, a ball every 

 six hours, containing opium, and camphor, with linseed meal and treacle. 



Half a pound or a pound of good mustard powder, made into a paste with boiling 

 water, and applied hot, will often produce as good a blister as cantharides. It 

 is a preferable one, when, as in inflammation of the kidneys, the effect of can- 

 tharides on the urinary organs is feared. Hartshorn is not so effectual. 

 Tincture of croton makes an active liquid blister, and so do some of the pre- 

 parations of iodine. 



FIRING. 



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 get rid of a deeper-seated one, or we may excite the absorbents 

 to remove an unnatural bony or other tumour. It raises more intense ex- 

 ternal inflammation than we can produce by any other means. It may be truly 

 said to be the most powerful agent that we have at our disposal. Humanity, 

 however, will dictate, that on account of the inflammation which it excites, and 

 the pain it inflicts, it should only be had recourse to when milder means have 

 failed, except in those cases in which experience has taught us that milder means 

 rarely succeed. 



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

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

 necessary in order to bring the iron into immediate contact with the. skin, and 

 likewise to prevent the smoke that will arise fioin the burned hair obscuring 

 the view of tho operator. The horse must then be thrown. This is abso- 

 lutely necessary for the safety both of the operator and the animal. The side 

 line may be applied in a shorter time, and so many hands may be not wanted 

 to cast the horse ; but no person can fire accurately, or with the certainty of 

 not penetrating the skin, except the animal is effectually secured by the hobbles. 

 Although accidents have occurred in the act of casting, yet many more have 

 resulted to the operator, the assistants, or the horse, in a protracted operation, 

 when the side-line only has been used. 



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 a red heat — to pass it more or less rapidly over the 

 skin, and with slighter or greater pressure 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, in common cases, to avoid penetrating 

 the skin. Leaving out of the question the additional cruelty of deep firing, 

 when not absolutely required, we may depend on it that if the skin is burned 

 through, inflammation, and ulceration, and sloughing will ensue, that will be 

 with much difficulty combated— that will unavoidably leave unnecessary blemish, 

 and that has 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 



