CAUTERY AND SETON. 
595 
from them would occasionally recur, disappearing from rest, and 
the cause of this, the not having applied remedies in due time. 
The second instance, produced from my own stable, brings me 
at once into one of the most interesting, I might almost add 
startling, points of the present controversy ; namely, the question, 
whether or not an artificial bandage be one of the results of 
firing ? stoutly denied by Mr. C. Spooner, great authority, I ad- 
mit- My case is this : — 
In 1803, whilst residing at Bilton Hall, in Warwickshire — once 
the residence of Addison, — I was fortunate in witnessing the 
splendid run the great John Warde’s hounds had that year 
from Winnick Warren, which, no doubt, Earl Spencer remem- 
bers, for his Lordship, when Lord Althorp, was one of the few 
who saw its glorious finish. But it had near been the finish of 
one of the two horses I had out that day, as I found him, on my 
road home, in a state of great distress, and in the wildest parts 
of Northamptonshire. Proper measures having been adopted by 
my groom when he got home, his life was saved ; but in about a 
week afterwards, one of his hind legs filled to a great extent; 
pus formed in due time in the inside of the thigh, not far from 
the sheath, and the substance at length broke, the discharge be- 
ing very great. As may be supposed, measures were taken to 
reduce the size of the limb, by keeping a tent in the opening; 
physic was given ; and all this would, no doubt, have been effec- 
tual ; but, being a young hand in those days, I submitted to the ad- 
vice of my groom, which was, to blister, and a leg full as big as 
two was the result. In fact, the lion was roused with a ven- 
geance, and all our attempts to appease him were in vain. At 
the end of six months, the limb remained nearly in statu quo , 
walking down, as grooms say, with exercise ; but by the next 
morning quite as big as ever, although all external heat had 
disappeared. Now, what was to be done? “ Ned,” said I to 
my groom ; “ this horse cost me a good deal of money, and we 
must doctor him ourselves no longer. I will send him up to 
Mr. Field to-morrow.” 
Now, I am sorry I have not Mr. Field’s letter to produce, but 
I perfectly recollect its purport after his having seen the horse. 
It was to say, that all the leg wanted was an artificial bandage, 
or laced stocking — and I well remember that term — to brace up 
the parts which we had so over-distended by the imprudent use 
of the blister ; and to give them their tone again ; but which 
could only be done by firing the leg from top to bottom. This 
was done, and with the very best effect. Although the damaged 
leg was never quite so fine as its fellow, it was very nearly 
so ; and the horse stood sound as a hunter, and afterwards in 
