351 
‘ f firing” horses. 
coloured. I have frequently “ fired” horses without throwing 
them down, or restraining them, beyond having one of the 
limbs held up by a powerful assistant; and I am sometimes 
quite astonished at the small amount of irritation a few lines 
with the iron produces. It will be in the experience of many 
that no burn is so painful as that caused by a piece of metal 
at a black heat; whereas, when nearly white hot, the iron 
carbonises the superficial part of the skin at once and de¬ 
stroys its sensibility. I have on a few occasions used a piece 
of iron at a high temperature to cauterise the wounds of 
persons who had been bitten by dogs suspected of rabies, 
and always found that the greatest pain experienced was 
generally in anticipating the operation. In “ firing” a horse 
for some diseases, a blister is not, in my practice, applied 
over the burnt surface for some days; and I have noted that 
the animal experiences more pain and irritation from the 
vesicant than the cautery. This, I have no doubt, has been 
observed by every veterinary surgeon. Nevertheless, when 
more than one limb has to be “ fired,” and especially if a 
large surface has to be cauterised, it is advisable, in the ma¬ 
jority of cases, not to do too much at a time; as when two or 
three legs are extensively operated upon at once the subse¬ 
quent irritation may be severe. Under any circumstances, 
the skin should not be cut through; and though in sayiug 
this I am, perhaps, not quitein union with some other veterinary 
surgeons, yet I am confident that no further benefit is to be 
derived from the excess, while unsightly blemish and more 
intense pain will be the result. If “ firing” is necessary, 
and a blister thought essential to complete the cure, the latter 
should not be applied until some days after the former; and 
a week at least should always intervene before another limb 
is blistered. Many horses have died from the great nervous 
disturbance and irritative fever set up by blistering more 
than one leg at a time. Of course, I am now speaking of 
such extensive surfaces as the whole of the extremity, from 
the knee or hock downwards, being involved in this medi¬ 
cation. 
With regard to annulling or alleviating the pain attending 
the operation of “ firing,” there can be no doubt whatever 
that every veterinary surgeon must be sincerely desirous, 
both on the score of his own safety as well as through a 
feeling of sympathy with the poor beast to be operated upon, 
that no suffering shall accrue. Veterinary science is nothing 
if it is not based upon humane principles; and no class of 
men should be more deeply imbued with the spirit and the 
impulses of humanity than veterinary surgeons. Their 
