838 MIDLAND COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
in horses from sandcrack, which was illustrated by models produced, 
showing that it was the simple insertion of a wooden wedge, the exact 
counterpart in shape of the fissure made by cutting away a part of the 
hoof where the crack was, and said this piece of wood was sufficiently wide 
to widen the original fissure, and when cut off level with the hoof and 
smoothed off, the horse could readily work. If they had followed him, 
they would understand that the fissure had been forced as wide apart as 
possible, whatever strain there might be upon the foot; and it being 
impossible to move this, the margins were in a much more quiescent 
condition, a greater state of rest than could be produced by any other 
principle previously tried. 
THE USE OF THE ECRASEUR. 
Mr. George Carless (Worcester) stated that since the President had 
introduced the ecraseur to him (one of which was on the table) he had 
obtained one, and he was very much pleased with it and liked it better 
than actual cautery. Captain Russell had suggested that he should sleep 
with it for a few days to get used to it (laughter). He did not know 
whether the gallant captain had done so, but he could certainly use it 
much better than himself. 
Capt. B. II. Bussell said he had taken great interest in Farmer Miles 
and his principles. There were two or three things one required to know 
about this instrument before it could be used with confidence, and he 
would do his best to inform them upon the matter. Farmer Miles had 
now left England, and therefore they could not have his experience, but 
he would show them one or two things worthy of notice. The great 
point was to get the chain secure upon the cord, for if they got the cord 
straight through the animal would not bleed, but if the cord was slanting 
it would bleed a gallon, or perhaps more. Farmer Miles invariably in 
castrating an old horse twists the testicles three times round and then 
screws them off. Fie said he liked to see the horse bleed, but if you do 
not want it to bleed, you place the cord in the usual way, and then screw 
it up until you find you have got the testicles tight. Then with a sharp 
nip you break through the blood-vessels. 
Mr. Taylor (Manchester) said he could not rise without thanking them 
for the invitation to attend that meeting, and according his small meed 
of praise to the President for bringing so many instruments there. The 
mode of treatment for sandcrack, as being practised in a large town, as well 
as the President’s remarks, he might say, were very valuable to him, and 
not only to him but every practitioner (hear, hear). They had long felt 
that there was a want of some such treatment as this, and the explanation 
given by the Professor he hoped would enable them to bring about some 
such desideratum (hear, hear). With regard to thermo-cautery, he had 
heard of it but had not seen it actually practised. Still he thought it 
must be one of value particularly to country practitioners, or any with 
a large practice in towns. It was certainly an improvement upon the 
old system when they had to go to the kitchen fire to heat their irons, 
and lie thought it a step in the right direction. The effect really was 
the same whether the horse was fired with a poker or any other heated 
iron. With regard to the “ ecraseur ” he might say that he had found it 
successful in the removal of large external tumours, and especially in 
one on the elbow of a horse in which the animal could scarcely have 
suffered a second. This was very important as he considered, but he 
had not used the instrument for castration purposes; still he felt sure 
that it would be adopted by most practitioners. 
