FIRING
—is an operation performed upon different parts of A HORSE for the promotion of any particular purpose, (according to the degree of injury sustained,) and in the following way. The horse being safely secured by twitches and cords, according to the methods in general use, the OPERATOR having his irons in the fire properly heated, and his attendant ready to supply him with another, as often as the fire of the previous iron is exhausted, he proceeds with the edge of the red-hot iron to make longitudinal and transverse strokes in succession, over the whole part where injury has been sustained, and to such extent as circumstances may have rendered necessary; the depth and magnitude of the operation depending upon the severity of the injury, and the length of time since it was sustained. Firing is frequently adopted in strains of the back sinews, where the subject is said to have broken down; likewise for BONE and BLOOD SPAVINS, CURBS, SPLENTS, and partially to prevent a renewal or repetition of SAND-CRACKS, as well as for RINGBONES, and LAMENESS in the round-bone; in the two last, however, it has hardly ever been known of the least utility.