124 VETERINARY SURGICAL. OPERATIONS 



anointed with vaseline to prevent blistering beyond the de- 

 sired limits. 



AFTER CARE.— The horse is placed in a single stall 

 and tied closely to prevent lying down for forty-eight hours. 

 At the end of this time the surface is submitted to a thorough 

 washing, with soap and hot water in which is dissolved a 

 small amount of mercuric chloride or carbolic acid, and then, 

 when dry, liberally smeared with vaseline. Thereafter, for 

 the next two weeks, the vaseline is applied every. day with 

 sufficient friction to disseminate it through the scabby sur- 

 face. On every third or fourth day the inunction may be pre- 

 ceded with a washing of soap and antiseptic hot water. At 

 the end of fourteen to eighteen days, the scabs having loos- 

 ened from the underlying surface, an astringent lotion, con- 

 sisting of acetate of lead one ounce, distilled extract of witch 

 hazel eight ounces, and water one quart, is applied twice 

 daily until cicatrization of the lines or points is completed 

 and all of the swelling has subsided. At the end of the fourth 

 week the horse is ready for work, exercise or the pasture. 



In view of the fact that firing is always performed for 

 more or less serious conditions, protracted rest is always 

 found exceedingly beneficial. Two, three, or even four 

 months' rest is desirable in almost every case, and during this 

 time a second blister can often be applied to good advantage. 



SEQUELiE. — It is possible to broil the skin between the 

 lines in line-firing and thus provoke extensive sloughing. In 

 puncture-firing the point may accidentally be plunged into 

 an articulation, bursa or sheath and thus cause an articular 

 or thecal abscess that may terminate seriously and even 

 fatally. Septic inflammation of the whole fired area, often 

 extending deeply into the subjacent textures - and in every 

 direction around it, followed by sloughing, multiple absces- 

 ses, and general systemic disturbances occur occasionally 

 from severe firing and blistering of a dirty skin, or from 

 filthy methods of after-treatment. Dirty water, rancid lard, 

 or filthy oils may carry infection into this favorable field for 

 microbian growth. When both fore legs are submitted to a 

 severe firing laminitis sometimes follows, and in some in- 

 stances it is serious. Chronic cellulitis followed by the pro- 

 duction of much new permanent subcutaneous tissue may 

 supervene and thus produce a permanent tumefaction of the 

 legs. Unsightly scars follow severe cauterization, sloughing 

 and abscesses. Flexion crevices behind the carpus, in front 

 of the tarsus, and behind the pasterns follow severe cauter- 



