754 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Dr. Milnes: There was one point in relation to the em¬ 
ployment of the actual cautery which the essayist did not touch 
upon, which seems to me to be quite important, and that is the 
age of the animal to be fired. My experience has taught me 
that we should be very careful in firing young animals, such as 
weanlings and yearlings. They are very susceptible to the ac¬ 
tion of counter-irritants, and great damage may be done if they 
are not cautiously applied. 
Dr. Ernst: I would like to ask the essayist his opinion as 
to whether in the application of the firing iron and blister over 
a spavin or ringbone, if he thinks that the inflammation is con¬ 
fined to the skin and subcutaneous tissues, or extends to the 
deeper parts. 
Dr. Sloan: I believe it is possible to do a job of line firing 
that will extend clear to the bone. It is probable that killing 
the animal so early as the third day, in the experiments made 
by Dr. McCall, that the tissue changes in the deeper structures 
.would not be noted, as proliferation of connective tissue cells 
would not take place so early. Had the animals lived longer, 
changes deeper down would doubtless have been noted. 
Dr. Stezvart: In the experiments alluded to the visible 
evidence of inflammation, such as congestion of vessels and ex¬ 
udate into the tissues, did not extend below the subcutaneous 
connective tissues. There was not observable any vascular 
changes in the deeper structures. I had hoped some one would 
take up the problem of modifying the circulation in the deeper 
parts by means of irritation of the surface. This is certainly 
quite an interesting phase of the application of counter-irrita¬ 
tion. It is well known to general practitioners that the stimu¬ 
lation of the skin by moist heat determines increased circula¬ 
tion in this structure, which will relieve internal congestion. 
If an animal suffering from congestion of the lungs, or other 
internal organs, be wrapped in blankets wrung out of water as 
hot as the animal can bear, and then further covered with 
blankets and impervious covers, that the internal congestion 
will be promptly relieved. A like result may be obtained by a 
thorough friction of the surface with some stimulating lini¬ 
ment, and the body wrapped in blankets. I feel that this is 
quite an important phase of the application of counter-irritants, 
and one not so much employed as should be. A letter received 
from a party in Maine inquires if an injured leg is fired, 
whether the other corresponding limb, which is sound, should 
be also fired, and as it seems to be the custom to fire both 
