FIRING 123 



arm's length and -with a graceful swing, bringing almost 

 every part of the curved edge into use at each sweep. The 

 speed of the iron is gauged according to the degree of heat, 

 so that the degree of cauterization at every part is exactly 

 equal. As the iron turns dark it is replaced with another 

 already heated and filed smooth as above directed. The first 

 firing is scarcely more than a marking out process ; the skin 

 is not much cauterized, especially where the hair is thick and 

 coarse, as around the fetlocks. The second firing over the 

 same lines, by the same rules governing the speed of the 

 iron, brings a brown effect to the skin and thus indicates a 

 slight degree of cauterization. If it is desired not to mark 

 the horse conspicuously, passing the irons twice over the 

 same lines is sufficient. If a nominal degree of cauterization 

 is desired the iron is passed over the same lines three or four 

 times, and for severe cauterization five times. These recom- 

 mendations may be -adopted as absolute laws if the irons are 

 always heated to the same degree and then passed over the 

 lines with decreasing speed as they gradually cool. It re- 

 quires some experience and some care to accomplish a given 

 amount of cauterization in a given number of times the iron 

 is passed over the lines, but the attainment is one worth pos- 

 sessing. In order to earn a good reputation in this operation 

 the surgeon must take into account the relative delicacy of 

 the skin of different regions and of different individuals; he 

 must be able to judge the amount of cauterization produced 

 by an iron of certain heat and drawn over the skin at a cer- 

 tain speed; and thus finally predict the exact appearance of 

 the fired surface at every stage of the healing process and 

 thereafter. 



Third Step. — Applying the Blister. — A blister of pow- 

 dered cantharides one part, and lard seven parts, is by far 

 the most reliable epispastic for the fired surface. It is much 

 less painful than mercurial blisters, more uniform in its ef- 

 fects, much less liable to produce sloughing of the skin, and 

 may always be depended upon to produce sufficient irritation. 

 Mercurial blisters are painful and treacherous upon fired legs. 



This blistering ointment is applied with nominal friction 

 immediately after the firing. When the cauterization has 

 been slight, as for example when conspicuous branding is to 

 be avoided, the ointment is rubbed in for five to ten minutes 

 and when the cauterization has been severe, it is only 

 smeared over the surface. 



The parts below the fired and blistered region are 



