AND HIS DISEASES. 193 



tachments. The lower opening should always be so placed 

 that the matter will have a dependent outlet. The ends of 

 the seton should be tied to circular pieces of leather so as to 

 prevent it being pulled through. It is necessary to wash it 

 frequently with warm water, and pull it up and down ofteii, 

 to keep it open, dressing it occasionally with digestive oint- 

 ment to keep up the discharge. 



Setons are now used with considerable success in the 

 treatment of spatin. 



FIEING. 



Piring is often resorted to as a counter-irritant, and also as 

 a means of corrugating the skin over weak parts so as to 

 form a permanent bandage. 



The frequent abuse of this operation has led to its almost 

 universal denouncement, so that it is not often resorted to in 

 modern practice ; however, we are not disposed to deprive 

 ourselves of this valuable curative agent on these grounds ; 

 we do not, however, recommend its general use, but in many 

 cases we have succeeded by judicious firing, when all other, 

 counter-irritants have failed. Piring, therefore, when judi- 

 ciously employed by a skilful operator, is a valuable remedy 

 for stimulating absorption, and counteracting inflammatory 

 action in deep-seated structures. In performing it, the hair 

 should be cut close off with the shears, the animal for greater 

 security being cast ; straight lines about half an inch apart 

 are drawn with a red hot small smooth-edged iron. The 

 lines must not be too deep, otherwise blemishes are apt to be 

 produced. If the action is not considered sufficient, it may 

 be blistered as weU as fired. The discharge is to be kept up 

 as long as necessary by digestive ointment. When it is de- 

 sired to heal it, simple dressing with oil is all that is required. 

 He must not be put to work tilj it is thoroughly healed up, 



