DISEASES OF THE BONES. 



421 



Pio. 720.— Feather-edged Firing-iron; 

 lourths Size. 



Three- 



back, and gradually thinned down to the edge, which should be 

 about one sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and nicely rouhded. 

 The handle may 

 be nothing more 

 than a straight 

 round bar of iron 

 from sixteen to 

 seventeen inches 

 long and turned 

 back at the end. 

 It is necessary to 

 have at least two 

 irons, so that 

 while one is being 

 used, the other 

 can be heating. 



It should be heated to a dull red color, and when taken 

 from the fire the edge quickly run over a board or plank 

 to make it smooth. When the edge is turned dark, draw 

 perpendicular lines on the leg, as shown in Fig. 722, from 

 top to bottom. They should be about two inches apart 

 at the top, and not drawn deeply. Lay the edge where 

 desired to start from, and draw steadily and gently to 

 the bottom. Then commence at the top and make cross 

 lines, obliquely, about half an inch-apart. Start the point 

 of the iron from the line at the right or left,- and draw to- 

 ward the center, as shown in Fig. 722. 



The skin should not be penetrated or cut through, as 

 it would leave a blemish. The cuticle is simply to be de- 

 stroyed, and a dark -brown impression left upon the skin, 

 from which there will exude a glutinous substance soon 

 after the operation. If the iron is red or -too hot, there 

 will be great danger of burning through ; though if the 

 operator is dextrous he can use it quite safely by drawing Fl8 731 

 it proportionately light and quick, but the work cannot 

 be so well done as with an iron that is of a dull-red color, or quite 

 dark at the edge. With such an iron, if the first line is not drawn 

 quite deep enough it can be repeated until the right depth upon 

 the cuticle is obtained, which will be indicated by its color. If the 

 lines are drawn much nearer than half an inch, there will be danger 

 of sloughing, while if too far apart there will be proportionately 

 less inflammation produced. They should be of a certain depth 



