' e & 
AS TO SOUNDNESS. 127 
swept the seton needle over the part freely, you will have 
made a pear-shaped separation of the parts. Now, by 
means, of a fine probe, introduce two or three small 
pledgits of tow dipped in the “caustic,” taking care that 
the end of each. pledgit hangs well out of the wound, that 
it may be caught hold of and withdrawn on the third day. 
Neglect of this latter precaution I have twice known to 
lead to unsightly blemishes from a piece of tow being left 
in the cavity. The neglect of this simple precaution has 
made one eminent veterinarian I know, discard the 
operation in favour of the common seton. , When it has 
been successfully done, in a proper case, the size of the 
“Spavin i is very materially lessened if not altogether re- 
moved, and the only evidence left is the cicatrix of a 
clean incision, which has, however, been of necessity the 
seat of some granulation. The strength and endurance 
of the granulation tissue “proud flesh” will determine 
the character of the cicatrix which remains. When this 
operation has been performed for roguish purposes on a 
sound hock to make it like its spavined fellow in size, 
to succeed, the incision has to bé immediately over the 
lower part of the seat of spavin, and not behind and 
beneath it as is done for honest curative purposes. Low 
class horse-dealers often try to persuade you that “the 
‘jack’ is owin’ to a kick from another ’os,” even when 
no mark is present over the parts ; so that you see how 
extremely plausible such an explanation would appear 
whén you have the mark left by the operation of caustick- 
ing over an otherwise sound hock. 
