CAUTERIZATION—FIRING. 89 
is operating on fibrous or bony tissues; it is necessary to do so, if 
one desires to produce a strong effect, though this is dangerous, even 
with fine needles, for synovial membranes. We have seen carpal 
synovitis follow an application made twice in the firing of a tendon. 
Dots made with the red iron are aseptic, and such they remain as 
deep as they go, when made small, fine, and with one stroke. It is 
not necessary, however, for synovial dropsies, that all points shall 
be perforating. 
Give a single stroke for synovial membranes and two or three for 
other tissues ; insome cases complete the operation with a blister ; 
such are the rules of the needle cauterization. 
Shall the cauterized regions be recovered with emollient applica- 
tions? The observations of .Renault, Favre, Gourdon, and Peuch 
have shown that greasy substances assist suppuration, interfere with 
cicatrization, and increase the size of wounds and of cicatrices. 
Their immediate use after, cauterization is condemned. When the 
inflammatory reaction is too severe, antiseptics may be resorted to 
{lotions or powders). If cauterization is not sufficient, a stimulating 
friction (a blister, mercurial or red precipitate ointment) must be 
made after the second or third day. Notwithstanding the absence 
cof exudation in. too strong firing, practitioners know how to distin- 
guish it from weak firing. 
The consecutive phenomena of firing vary much, according to the 
method used. If the firing has been superficial, no matter in what 
shape, during the days following, the region is swollen, and an 
exudation more or less abundant is thrown out at the bottom of the 
dots or of the lines, which soon dries up and forms yellow grayish 
crusts, covering the entire region ; the resting of the leg is very 
’ painful, the lameness is apparent and a severe itching exists. As 
long as this lasts, the patient must be closely watched ; and to 
prevent his biting and rubbing himself, he has to be tied up close to 
his manger, with a cradle or a side bar fixed to his halter and 
surcingle. The crusts become loose towards the eighth, tenth or 
fifteenth day ; to accelerate their dropping, frequent lotions of warm 
water may be applied, in preference to poplar ointment ; if the skin 
has a tendency to crack, it may be covered with borated vaseline 
Later on, the eschars produced by the cautery drop 
when a great thickness of the dermis is involved, 
here longer, and their sloughing takes place bv a 
s, which leaves exuberant granulating surfaces, 
longer concealed by the new 
or glycerine. 
off themselves ; 
they sometimes ad 
suppurative proces 
followed by permanent scars, no 
growth of hair. 
While these phenomena take place on the surface of the skin, the 
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