55S 
FIRING HORSES. 
“ My desire is to see the * Phoenix rise from its dying* ashes,’ 
therefore (I) will attempt at shewing* the causes which have 
led to the failure and abandonment of the firing operation, re¬ 
garding it as one of our chief resources in effecting cures , and 
therefore indispensable to veterinary surgery.” 
This “ failure and abandonment,” Mr. T. informs us, has espe¬ 
cially been observed at the Veterinary College, the profes¬ 
sors of which institution have inculcated “ that other remedies 
are preferable to the firing irona deception they have been 
led into from their practice of firing “ superficially ”—“ stu¬ 
diously avoiding cutting through the common integuments.” 
To w r hich Mr. T. adds, “ that a very strong prejudice (arising 
from the former) exists at this moment against the operation of 
firing in horses, particularly in the metropolis; but it is still up¬ 
held in the country as indispensable by post and coach masters, 
and most sporting men who ride the top pace to hounds.” 
Before we set about to combat any man’s opinions, we cer¬ 
tainly ought to be able to satisfy ourselves that he is reasoning 
from correct data . Is it true, that the operation of firing is 
abandoned 1 
At the Veterinary College it may be, perhaps. I know the 
College well enough to believe that, there , firing may be 
abolished : the “ professors” never rode one hobby long; like 
the humble writer of these observations, they were always 
famed for giving any new hackney the preference to an old 
one; and so, ever since nerving, and setoning, and frog-bar- 
shoes have been in fashion, they have, I dare say, relinquished 
the old and obsolete practice of firing. 
And there can be no doubt (as Mr. T. well remarks), but 
that these collegiate abolishments and innovations have had 
their effect upon practitioners at large; if none upon the old 
and experienced ones, certainly a great deal upon all new¬ 
comers. For all this, however, I cannot make up my mind to 
believe that the operation of firing is “ abandonedor (with 
the old and experienced, at least) that it is even growing into 
any disrepute. That it is nothing like so frequently had re¬ 
course to as it used formerly to be, is a fact nobody will deny; 
and it is a fact w hich I, as a practising veterinarian, feel proud 
in having it in my power to proclaim, because it is one which 
speaks volumes to the ears of humanity in favour of veterinary 
surgery. 
I am not one of those squeamish or chicken-hearted mortals 
that would not, as a medical attendant, put an animal to any 
pain or torture I deemed necessary for his ultimate benefit and 
relief: at the same time, if I could effect that by mild means 
