ON SETONS AND CAUTERIZATION. 
290 
are fond of novelties. I have tried it in my own practice, and 
cannot help regarding it as a miserable substitute for the iron. 
I am sorry that Mr. Sewell should know so little about cau- 
terization. It is evident that he is a stranger to the operation. 
The danger he apprehends is quite imaginary. In the hands 
of a skilful and attentive surgeon there is no danger; in the 
hands of a bungler there is some, but not much. The pain at- 
tending and following the operation must always vary in degree, 
according to the manner in which it is performed. But in every 
case there must be pain ; without irritation there can be no cure ; 
for in truth there is no remedy. Among road and canal horses 
there are lamenesses for which the irritation can hardly be too 
intense, or too lasting. Mr. Turner, I doubt not, will tell us 
all about these. I wish his book were ready. 
The pain in some cases, only in some, must be very great, 
Still that must be suffered. Which is worst, the pain of 
curing, or the pain of working uncured? It is nonsense to say, 
that the seton is equally effectual, and much milder. Firing 
may be such that it will give no more pain than a seton, while 
it will do quite as much good. But this kind of firing is only 
for certain cases; and so far as humanity and a cure are con- 
cerned, in such cases, either the iron or the seton may be used. 
Mr. Sewell must not brand us for barbarians. Though he may 
not know it, there are men in the profession with as much skill 
as he has ever had opportunity of acquiring, and with quite as 
much humanity. 
There is one other thing to be considered. Cauterization does 
not require the horse to be thrown, at least not above once in 
fifty, or it may be a hundred, applications. The seton, however, 
cannot be applied on the legs without casting — shoulder and 
stifle excepted, where they are seldom required. The cost of 
throwing the horse is against the operation ; and the horse cer- 
tainly is not likely to be the better for a tumble. It would ap- 
pear, then, that even where a seton will do well enough, the 
cautery will do better. 
Before concluding, I ought to make the customary apology 
for entertaining an opinion different from that of the worthy 
President. I will conform to any thing reasonable; and do, 
therefore, beg to disclaim all intentional offence, hoping that 
Mr. Sewell will follow my example of conciliation, and retract 
his unqualified censure of the cauterizers, among whom I have 
the honour to rank myself. He should not say, that he would 
like to abolish us by act of Parliament. That is the old way of 
enforcing obedience ; and 1 had thought Mr. Sewell was averse 
to all the old practices. We arc, as a body, sufficiently ready 
