SURGICAL OPERATIONS 266 
Spanish flies. Caeaper substitutes are used, but they irritate vio- 
lently. In extensive inflammatory affections, they are, on this 
account, perfectly inadmissible ; and wherever a case requires any 
thing more, it will be noted. The mode of blistering with the 
Spanish fly is sufficiently known. The hair should be cut or shorn 
2s close as possible from around the part; the blistering matter 
should then be well rubbed in for ten or fifteen minutes. If the 
jasterns and fetlocks are the parts to be blistered, previous to rub- 
bing in the ointment, smear some lard, tallow, or melted suet over 
the heels, and within the hollow at the back of the small pastern. 
This will often prevent some troublesome sores forming, from the 
blistering ointment falling on these sensitive parts. While a blis- 
ter is acting, the litter should be removed from under the feet, or 
it will tickle the legs and irritate; but, above all, the head ought 
to be most carefully secured, for two days and nights, to oppose 
lying down, more especially to prevent the horse biting the blis- 
tered part. On the third evening he may be permitted to repose 
but a prevention should even then be continued, by means of what 
ie called a cradle. This apparatus may be bought at every turn- 
ing shop, or may be made of eight or ten pieces of round wood, 
an inch and a half in diameter, and two feet long. These are 
strung at each end on arope, and fastened around the neck. 
When it is intended to blister repeatedly, the effects of the first 
should have subsided before the seccnd is applied, the scurf and 
scabs also be cleared away, and the part well washed with soap 
and water. In all cases, the third or fourth day after the applica- 
tion the part should be thoroughly painted over, by means of a 
‘ong-haired brush (such as are in use with pastry-cooks to glaze 
their crusts), with lead liniment, which should be repeated every 
day. And when it is proposed to turn a horse out, it should never 
be done until the whole blistered surface be quite healed; other- 
wise dirt, flies, etc., may prove hurtful. 
It remains to observe that, instead of repeated active blisterimg, 
it is, in some cases, preferable to keep up a continual slight irrita- 
tion on the original blister by means of stimulants, as iodine oint- 
ment, mild blistering applications, ete. Caution is, however, 
necessary, to avoid forming an eschar, and thereby a permanent 
blemish ; but when a blemish is not of consequence, this plan will 
be found often more efficacious than firing, as in splints, spavins, 
ete. Some practitioners blister mildly one day, and on the next 
