OTHER REMEDIES FOR SPAVIN. 
65 
such circumstances, I have known the introduction of a seton 
followed, after some three or four weeks of issue — for time must 
be allowed — by considerable benefit, if not by soundness; and, what 
is more, this secondary or deferred soundness is likely to turn out 
of permanent character. My interpretation of such cases as these 
is — not that setoning has surpassed firing as a remedy, but — that 
the actual cautery has left incompleted the process of cure, for lack 
of time probably having been given to bring it about, and that the 
seton, and the additional repose, have at last effected the object. I 
believe that the firing has failed — if “ failure” such can be called — 
either from its not having been practised with sufficient severity, 
or from insufficient time being given before the animal’s work was 
resumed. 
In the year 1827 I had an opportunity afforded me of testing — 
as far as the cases experimented on would test them — the com- 
parative efficacy of the seton and the actual cautery. It was the 
year I entered the First Life Guards, and it became requisite for 
me, on joining, to make a general inspection of the horses of the 
regiment. In the course of my inspection I found nine horses lame 
from demonstrable spavins ; some three or four of which I was of 
opinion offered prospects of amendment by treatment, and accord- 
ingly these were taken into the infirmary. This occurring during 
the time that setons had acquired a sort of specific fame from 
their alleged all-but universally successful employment in spavin 
by Professor — then Assistant Professor — Sewell, at the Royal 
Veterinary College, it was thought these cases might be made to 
cast some light upon the much disputed question. With this in 
view, two were selected, both chronic, both exhibiting stiff and 
hobbling lameness on emerging in the morning from their stables, 
both aged horses, both in fact as nearly similar as two cases of 
spavin could be expected to be* ; and, at the period of my taking 
them under my care for treatment, both horses, lame as they were, 
actually at work in the ranks. After some requisite preparation the 
spavined hocks of both these horses were blistered ; but no relief 
was afforded. A month afterwards, one of them (No. 6 of A troop) 
had his spavined hock fired, but not deeply ; and across the spavin 
place of the hock of the other horse (No. 26 of F troop) a seton 
was introduced, the broadest tape that could be procured being 
used for the purpose. The inflammation in the fired hock was 
augmented, and for a time maintained beyond the ordinary degree, 
by dressings to the scores of blister ointment ; while the seton 
in the other horse was kept discharging as much as possible by 
digestive dressings. The seton was kept in five weeks. At the 
* Unfortunately, I could learn nothing satisfactory concerning their history 
or period of lameness. 
