FIRING 



121 



penetrate through the skin, and even directly through the 

 subjacent ligaments to the bones. The depth of the pene- 

 tration must be judged according to the character of the 

 structure beneath. Synovials and veins must be specially 

 considered. The points are made from one-half to three- 

 quarters of an inch apart over the entire surface. 



RESTRAINT. — Firing should always, when not pre- 

 vented by an exceptionally restive horse, be performed in 

 the standing position. By simply applying the twitch to the 

 nose and elevating the opposite leg from the floor with the 

 side-line, almost every horse can be fired with little annoy- 



Fig. 76 — Sands' Thermo-Cautery. 



ance during the operation. Occasionally, however, an indi- 

 vidual is encountered that will resent every touch of the iron 

 by plunging into the air and otherwise preventing successful 

 execution of the operation. In these events the recumbent 

 position will be necessary. The standing position is prefer- 

 able, also, on account of the fact that the lines can be drawn 

 more symmetrically, and can be made to conform more 

 gracefully and artistically to the shape of the joint or region 

 fired, than is possible in the recumbent attitude. The same 



