438 THE HORSE. 



upon firing to a greater or less extent, according to circumstances 

 but always lasting for a few months, until the skin stretches to its 

 previous condition. The blemish which it leaves, and the pain 

 which it occasions, both during and after the application of the 

 irons, should cause it to be avoided when any equally useful substi- 

 tute can be employed ; but, unfortunately, there are many cases 

 where it stands without a rival, as being at once the safest and the 

 most efficient remedy which can be adopted. Blisters and setons 

 can be made to cause the same amount of counter-irritation ; but 

 the inflammation accompanying the former often extends beneath 

 the skin, and increases the mischief it was intended to relieve ; 

 while the latter has no effect whatever in producing pressure upon 

 the parts beneath. The pain of firing can be relieved entirely at 

 the time of the operation by chloroform; but the subsequent 

 smarting is quite as bad, and this is beyond the reach of any 

 anaesthetic. Independently, however, of the interests of the master, 

 it is also to the advantage of the horse to get thoroughly cured; 

 for if he is not, he will either work on in misery, or he will be con- 

 signed to the knacker's yard ; and, therefore, the adoption of the 

 most efficacious plan of treatment, even if somewhat the most pain- 

 ful, is the best for both. 



Firing may be performed standing, by the use of the side 

 line for the hind leg, or by fixing up one fore leg when the other 

 is to be operated on. There is, however, nothing like the break or 

 tresis, where more than a slight extent of surface is to be lined. 

 The firing-iron should have a. smooth edge, about the thickness of 

 a worn shilling ; and it should be heated to the point when it shows 

 a dull red in the dark. When the disease for which the irons are 

 used is slight, the skin should not be penetrated ; but in bad cases, 

 where the mischief is great, and particularly when it is wanted to 

 have a good permanent bandage, the cauterization must be deeper ; 

 but this requires some practical knowledge to decide. The hair 

 of the part should be cut very closely with the scissors, or shaved ; 

 then, having secured the leg. the iron is to be steadily but rapidly 

 passed in parallel lines over the skin, making just the proper pres- 

 sure which is required to burn to the requisite depth. A light 

 brown mark should be left, which shows that the proper effect has 

 been produced; and the color should be uniform, unless it is de- 

 sired to penetrate deeper at certain parts, which is sometimes 

 practised with advantage. The lines are sometimes made in a 

 slanting direction round the leg, and at others straight up and 

 down ; but it is useless to describe the details of this operation, 

 which can only be learned by watching its performance by another 

 hand. Badly done firing is always an eyesore ; but when the lines 

 are evenly drawn, and they have healed without any sloughs, 

 caused by irregular or excessive pressure, they show that a master- 



