TREATMENT OF SPAVIN. 
605 
the moon on fired horses, directing that the “ fire” be given, un- 
less in cases “ of extream necessity,” always “ during the wane 
of the moon.” “ The best time,” he says, “ is about five or six 
days after the full moon.” — Solleysell appeared to have reason to 
dread deep firing ; for he cautions us against “ piercing the skin 
with red-hot knives ,” as he calls the firing-irons; his rules of 
proceeding being to — “ 1. Press not too hard upon the part. 2. 
Let the knife be red hot, not flaming. 3. Let it be heated in a 
charcoal fire.” — “ Unless in cases of extream necessity you must 
never pierce the skin, but only sear it gently, and by degrees, till 
it be of a reddish colour, resembling a cherry — “ ’tis incompa- 
rably better to make use of a moderately hot knife, and to draw 
the same stroke five or six times over, than to make it at one 
dash with a very hot knife.” — “ Seven or eight days before the 
application of the fire, the parts must be softened either with 
baths or fomentations.” — “ The part being softened, you must 
proceed to give the fire gently, but dexterously, according to the 
nature and situation of the part, either in the form of a feather , 
rose , shield, palm of the hand, or any other convenient figure.” — 
“ The fire thus dexterously and lightly given to a part that is al- 
ready softened, will produce a much more considerable effect 
than the most violent fire that can be applied without a due pre- 
paration of the part by softening remedies.” — “ You must give the 
fire with a knife that has a pretty thin edge, but rather round 
than sharp, and always rub it on a piece of wood when you take 
it out of the fire, for the ashes that stick to it would cut and fester 
the skin. You must also observe to follow the hair, that it may 
cover the marks after the sores are healed. Thus, for example, 
when you have occasion to give fire on the sinews of the fore legs, 
you must draw a line or rase downwards, between the sinew and 
the bone on both sides, and three or four more upon the sinews at 
equal distances, rather than imitate those who draw cross lines, 
as if they were going to broil a fish.”—' “ I have hitherto used 
copper knives with very good success, and I shall always prefer 
them before gold, though not before silver.” — “ The effect of the 
fire lasts twenty-seven days, which may be divided into three 
equal periods, for its agglutination, state, and declination .” — 
“T would be convenient to let the horse repose all the while . 
But the shortest time of rest that can be allowed on this occasion 
is eighteen days.” — Not even gentle walking exercise, half an 
hour daily, which will cause the fire to ff operate more vigorously,” 
must be commenced until “ eighteen days after giving the fire.” — 
“ I may justly reckon myself among the number,” adds Solleysell, 
“ who have brought this method (firing) into fashion at Paris ;” — 
and “ I think I may be allowed to say” — “ I have done a consider- 
