562 
ON FIRING. 
under the skin, and under which great part of the cellular tissue 
he describes also lies*. Why, in fact, if Mr. Turner tires so 
deeply as he would have us believe, it is evident that he must 
scorch or divide the horse’s nerves with the actual cautery. But, 
after all, Mr. Turner has not condescended to inform us in what 
period his patients recover , a point of the deepest importance to 
the owner; but he says it would fill a volume to describe the fore 
and after treatment, &c., which this deep plan requires. In this 
I sincerely believe him; and have not the least doubt but that 
many months must frequently elapse before the poor suffering 
animal is relieved from the effect of this unnecessary torture, to 
say nothing about the sequel. 
It may be, perhaps, said, How can the animal be in torture if 
the nerves are divided? What! Are the inflammation and slough¬ 
ing, which are certain to follow, nothing? But, says Mr. Turner, 
“ neither I nor my brother ever suffer the excessive irritation and 
constitutional disturbance to steal a day’s march on us.” (Fortu¬ 
nate men!) In this I must confess, if true, Messrs. Turner are 
luckier practitioners than your humble servant; for, in the few 
instances that have come under my observation, when the animal 
may happen to have made a sudden and violent struggle before 
the iron could be withdrawn, and it has unfortunately gone 
through the skin and burnt the cellular tissue, but without in¬ 
juring either tendon, ligament, or periosteum, I have invariably 
found inflammation and sloughing follow, and many months have 
even elapsed before the poor animal has been again fit for ser¬ 
vice; and in one instance I recollect the animal became nearly 
useless from the consequences. Mr. Turner wishes to make it 
appear, that the use of the actual cautery is nearly abolished in 
the metropolis. In this respect he is really greatly mistaken; 
and during my practice of thirty years I have never known the 
utility of firing called in question, or fail in its effects in a general 
point of view: it is only condemned by those who could not pro- 
{ >erly perform the operation, and I call upon Mr. Turner to in- 
orm me when and where he has ever seen the highly-talented 
Professor of the Veterinary College, or the Assistant , Mr. 
Sew ell, give the fire in a skilful manner. I believe there is not 
an old farrier to be found in the country, that would not be 
ashamed of his calling , on seeing such specimens of firing as I 
have there seen attributed to the deputy. Now, Sir, I do not 
K retend to any great knowledge in human surgery, but, as 
Ir. Turner proposes firing through the skin by crucial incision, 
* Any person desirous o ascertaining this fact, may satisfy themselves 
by calling at my residence, where they will see the whole structure (skin 
excepted) exhibited at one view. 
i 
