NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE. 
323 
rubbed with lard, or, what is still better, neats’-fiot oil. 
This will give a pliability to the skin, and render it less 
liable to separate or ulcerate; but if cracks or ulceration 
take place, then calamine ointment must be applied to it. 
The composition of this ointment will be found amongst 
the medicines, in the following chapter. A bandage must 
not be used, as it would Drove injurious by irritating the 
part. 
There can be little doubt of the superiority of firing over 
blistering. The skin being partially destroyed by the iron, 
is restored, and the surface lessened by its being drawn 
together, which acts as a kind of bandage, and conse¬ 
quently tightens and binds the whole parts; and by 
adding pressure is of much advantage in reducing hard and 
callous substances. After firing, it will be found of much 
advantage to turn out the animal to grass for three or four 
months. It is very unsafe to work a horse for a month or 
two after this operation, as it is likely to produce a fresh 
inflammation, which in all probability would be worse than 
the first. 
Firing should always be either in parallel or longitudinal 
lines, particularly on the coronet, fetlock, and back sinews, 
for the reason that the skin will contract, so as to form the 
greatest uniformity of pressure. 
NEUROTOMY, OR CUTTING THE NERVE. 
The valuable services of the horse would be in a great 
degree circumscribed, but for the artificial protection of his 
hoofs by an iron shoe. Without this his feet would soon 
be battered to pieces going over our hard roads. But while 
shoes protect his flexible horny hoofs from injury, they at 
the same time cramp and confine them, from the inflexible 
nature of the iron and tight nailing, which, without great 
