472 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
they seldom give a successful result. It is an error to hope that by their 
use one will succeed in changing or arresting rapidly an articular inflam- 
mation, which has its productive conditions always present and will feek 
their action as soon as work is resumed. 
The application of these agents subcutaneously has been recommended. 
(Bassi, Buch). Bassi makes over the spavins two or three cutaneous inci- 
sions, converging downward, scarifies the subdermic connective tissue 
and then applies the blister. 
The empiric mentioned by Cattrall made a longitudinal incision on the 
skin of the spavin, separated it from the tissues underneath forward and 
behind, then introduced powdered sublimate in the wound, which he 
sewed with three stitches. Often the slough of a piece of skin, the open- 
ing of the synovial or a bony necrosis were the sequelz of this treatment. 
Setons, recommended years ago, are to-day almost completely aban- 
doned. To them blisters and later on firing have succeeded. 
Cauterization has a strongér and deeper action than blisters. Lines or 
superficial points have their: advocates; but it is better to abstain from 
using it in recent spavins. Gerlach has studied comparatively superficial 
and deep firing, and condemned the latter, which he said exposes to 
arthritis. Modern practice has rehabilitated needle firing. Arthritis is to. 
be feared only when the operation is badly done and the joints are not 
yet protected by periostosis; when the osseous neoformation exists, the 
entrance of the point is not to be feared, when made on its surface. It is. 
known anyhow that fine points or needles can without danger perforate 
articular synovial. Moller, who claims to be a partisan of deep 
cauterization, passes his cautery one, two or three times in the point, and 
often completes the operation with a blistering friction (sublimate oint- 
ment 1 to 6). Hoffmann applies over the exostosis fifteen or twenty 
points down to the bones. Bottazzi, as wellas Nanzio, employed the sub- 
cutaneous method. 
Several special operations have been recommended against spavin. 
Abildgaard, Hering, L. Lafosse, have advised the section of the cunean. 
branch. The operation is very simple. The animal thrown on the lame 
side, the opposite leg is secured on the corresponding forearm. The line. 
of incision is indicated by the vertical axis of the internal face of the 
hock ; operating too much forward, the saphena vein or the articular 
bursa might be injured. The growth itself gives the best point of repair; 
if it is small, the band is felt over its surface; if large, it is ordinarily 
divided in two portions by a transversal groove, at the bottom of which: 
the band is situated. Sometimes this is raised, stretched or more or less. 
deviated by the growth. The hair being clipped, a vertical incision is. 
made with the convex bistouri on the selected region, with a length of 4 
