THE 
AGKieULTURAL mmAZlM, 
COLOMBO 
Added as a Supplement Monthly to the ^' TBOPIGAL AGBICULTURISTr 
The following pages include the Contents of the Agricultural Mugasine for 
December : — 
Vol. XL] DECEMBER, 1899. [No. 6. 
VETERINARY NOTES. 
Actual Cautery or Firing. 
^•;vaitT^[ HIS form of treatment well-known 
Mi n iS Ceylon by the name of " Firing " 
Pa J! N&J or by the commoner expression 
I^M "Burning," has by unjudicious 
H^^^^^kj use created a prejudice in the 
^' minds of many. 
The lameness caused by sprains and exostosis 
is common enough in animals, and especially the 
horse, which though destined by nature to do fast 
work, is often worked without moderation, and 
this form of lameness requires the use of irritants 
in the shape of liniments, blisters or even the 
actual cautery to stimulate and check the growth 
of calcarious substances in case of exostosis, and 
also to stimulate and produce absorption and 
mechanical support in cases of sprain. 
In serious case 5 of lameness by exostosis, blister- 
ing is often attended with only a partial success, 
and the use of the actual cautery will in many 
instances indicate in a short time the advisability 
or inadvisability of continuing further treatment. 
The advantages of the actual cautery over other 
forms of treatment are that it is acute and effectual, 
and that the cicatrix left serves as a mechanical 
support for the part that has undergone the 
operation. 
No doubt it leaves a blemish. In cases of acute 
lameness ciuised by exostosis, point-flring is much 
preferable, because it does not cause much blemish ; 
but iu cases of sprains, blistering and firing should 
be resorted to only when other forms of treat, 
meut fail, 
Successful Operation of Neurotomy 
IN A CASE OP Navicular Disease. 
A case of lameness was reported to me by a 
well-known horse owner, and from the history of 
the case 1 had very little difRcuUy in telling 
him that the animal was suffering from navicular 
lameness. I also informed him that 1 believed 
neuratomy to be the only treatment that could 
be adopted with success. I explained to him the 
evil results that usually follow neuratomy, but 
assured him that in the hands of good horsemen 
and under proper shoeing and care they could 
easily be prevented. I farther explained that the 
operation is a very painful one, but considering 
the chronic pain the animal suffers daily, the 
tension pain caused by the operation cati never be 
considered cruel. Accordingly, it was agreed to 
operate on the animal. 
The animal underwent the operation on the 
2oth September, and owing to want of a well- 
trained assistant, it was operated upon without 
general anaesthesia. I found it rather difficult in 
currying on my work with the use of a mugni- 
f.V'ng glass, but it is important to be able to pick 
out the nerve from the other vessels that run 
along with it, and which are very often severed 
by mistake. 
It is also usual to tie up the nerve before it is 
severed, and in this conneciton I should like to 
emphasise that only loose knots should be used 
and not a surgical knot. If the operator learns 
thnt he has made a mistake by securing an artery 
or vein, it will be a hercule:m task to untie a 
surgical ligature when it is jammed up. 
I have found sutures hardly of any help 
when it is aimed at bringing; only the severed skiu 
in juxtaposition ; for in the ab.seuce of lii<!;lily or- 
ganized muscular tissues, suture.-^ generally fail,and 
so the woiui'l was left nnsutureti, and 1 am glad 
to say in this case union was prompt and good. 
The animal is now quite free from lameness- 
D. A. CHINNIAH, Vet. Surgeon, 
