FIRING 



117 



For Tendinitis. — For tendinitis, "bowed" tendons, or 

 sprains of the tendons, line-firing is preferable. The firing 

 should be carried from the level of the trapezium superiorly 

 to the os suffraginis inferiorly. The operation is manifestly 

 effectual for such abnormalities of the tendons, especially 

 when followed by sufficient rest to permit all of the inflam- 

 mation to subside. That the rest is not alone the curative 

 factor is shown by the poor results obtained when firing is 

 omitted. In draft-horse tendinitis manifested by a character- 

 istic, painful tumefaction at the level of the inferior check 

 ligament line-firing is beneficial but not always curative. 



Fig. 70— Design for Firing Knee and Tendons. 



Sometimes two or three firings and long rest will fail to en- 

 tirely correct this refractory lesion, yet no other treatment 

 is half as beneficial. For the so-called bowed tendon of speed 

 horses firing is sometimes futile on account of the seriousness 

 of the lesion and the severe strain to which the tendons of 

 such horses are afterwards subjected. Many race-horses, 

 however, have been markedly benefited and many have been 

 cured entirely by the treatment. 



For Sesamoiditis.— Lesions about the sesamoids, either in 

 the pectoral or pelvic limb, often furnish suitable indications 

 for the operation. Strains, osteophytes, synovitis, calcifica- 



