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A FEW REMARKS ON THE USE OF THE ACTUAL 
CAUTERY IN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
By W. A. Wilson, M.R.C.V.S.L., Liverpool. 
It may, by some, be deemed unnecessary to discuss the 
subject of the use of the actual cautery, as a firing iron is one 
of the oldest instruments in use among veterinary surgeons, 
and every member of the profession knows all about its 
action, and is, or ought to be, able to apply it properly. 
It is to be regretted, however, that this is not always the 
case ; in some instances the operation has been “ overdone,” 
thereby causing sloughing of the parts, permanent blemish, 
and, consequently, discredit to the operator and also to the 
profession at large ; for I maintain that when one member of 
our profession commits an error, especially in operative sur- 
gery, we all suffer, more or less, in the estimation of the 
owner of the animal. 
Another reason why I have chosen the subject is because 
“ firing ” is, to a certain extent, (especially among the youn- 
ger members of the profession) (like bleeding) becoming 
discontinued. Why is this ? I presume it is because they 
think that by the application of milder and more scientific 
remedies, the diseases thus treated can be alleviated or cured. 
Such I admit, in many instances, is the case, but again, how 
frequently is the practitioner disappointed, after treating his 
patient for lameness under one or the other of the “ mild and 
scientific ” systems, to find at the end of a few weeks that 
the patient remains in “statu quo.” We all know that if a 
horse, or any other animal, is intrusted to our care for the 
cure of lameness, or any other disease, and we do not effect 
that cure in a reasonable time, the owner becomes dissatis- 
fied. We must all admit that there are many cases of lame- 
ness that are incurable ; but I have frequently seen cases 
lightly treated and not cured, when, in my opinion, if the 
firing iron had been used, a different result would have been 
obtained. 
Again, many object to the “practice of firing” on the 
plea of the extreme suffering caused by it, and perhaps some 
day we may have the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 
to Animals interfering with us in this respect. We all know, 
at least I think so, that it causes more pain to the animal 
than any other operation to which we subject him, castration 
excluded. But of two evils let us choose the least : which, I 
ask, is the best ? to allow the animal to suffer from lameness, 
