742 
o:; SINGEING THE COAT OF THE HOUSE. 
that will lead to the supposition that their flesh can be unwholesome, 
since the disease is plainly a local one, and, in general, does not, 
in the slightest degree, taint either the muscular or visceral system. 
Beside the remedies above mentioned, ablutions of cold w^ater on 
the regions of the trachea, or blistering, or cauterizing that region, 
is useful. 
With regard to the solipedes, as no advantage can be drawn from 
sacrificing them during their illness, perhaps it would be well to try 
the operation of tracheotomy, and even, if it be necessary, to open 
the trachea in more places than one, in order to be able with pro¬ 
perly constructed forceps to seize and separate the inorganic mem¬ 
brane attached to the internal surface of the larynx or the trachea. 
This operation would be equally necessary for ruminants, if the 
owner was unwilling to destroy them. Although this has often 
been attempted in the human being, and always without success, 
that is no sufficient reason why we should absolutely reject it with 
regard to the inferior animals. 
It is certain that if we could, by means of an opening made into 
the trachea, detach the membrane which more or less obstructs it, 
Ave should prevent the suffocation of the animal, or the bleeding, 
which is often the result of its being torn away by the violence of the 
croup. In a case already desperate, and Avhen neither the reputa¬ 
tion of the man nor the art can be compromised, it is better to at¬ 
tempt an operation the success of Avhich is uncertain, than not to 
do any thing at all. ' 
At least, by more earnest attention, to this disease some of us, 
perhaps, may be able to discover its true cause, as Avell as its dif¬ 
ferent varieties, and to adopt modes of cure more certain than those 
I have described*. 
ON SINGEING THE COAT OF THE HORSE. 
By Mr. W. TitCHMARSH, Bishops Stortford. 
At the commencement of the year 1838, I submitted to my pro¬ 
fessional brethren an instrument for the purpose of shortening the 
coat of the horse, by singeing, or the application of flame. The in¬ 
strument is so formed as to press down the coat, a comb following, 
above Avhich is a grove containing cotton that is to be moistened 
Avith naphtha, then ignited, and quietly draAvn over the coat. By 
repeating the operation occasionally the coat may be kept at any 
length the owner may deem requisite. 
It is a fact Avell known to those Avho may have the care of horses, 
* (iloliier on ATterinarv Medicine and Snr^evv. vol. i, pa 2 :c -‘ICO. 
