The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-03 00:00:00

"FIRING" HORSES.

The Times has published the following letter :
Sir,—The debate in the House ot Lords on Lord
CarLlarv,in's Bill for regivatieg vivisection has excited
so much interest as to the humane treatment of
animals, that I may perhaps be excused for offer'eg
the following remarks :
Allusion was made in the course of the debate to the
practice of firing horses, which, it wo.s stated, most
truly, was a very painful operation and it was also
remarked that it was never done under the influence of
aneesthetics. One noble lord is reported to have said
that no doubt it was painful, but that it was necessary.
Having had the honour of superintending the Qneen's
stables for the last sixteen years—in which there are
generally 200 horses at work—l have no hesitation in
saying that the operation of firing is totally unneces-
sary, an I during the above period it never has been
had recourse to in the Royal establishment.
I have no faith in the theory of the natural bandege
formed by burning into and often through the skin of
a horse; and I believe that.bliste)ings and rest produce
exactly the same effect, widaout the torture, and with-
out the unsillatly blemish which firing generally leaves
behind it. I also wish to state that, with her Majesty's
entire sanction' the use of chloroform has been intro-
duced into the Royal establishment for several years
past, in paieful operations. If the practice of firing
horses is to be persisted in, it should be done under the
influence' of some an msthetic.
It is an exceedingly painful operation, and as the
treatment is frequently applied to both fore, or both
hind legs, and in some instances "all round," the
animal is under torture for a very long time.—l re-
main, Sir, yours,
U. H. MAUDE, CrOWEL Equerry.
Royal Mews, May 27.

iOftJ
In reply to the above, Mr. J. Itoalfe Cox,
writes to The Tinus :
"My attention has been called to a letter from
Colonel Maude on the above subject in your impres-
sion of Monday, and from a desire only to place the
result of long experience at the disposal of all whom
it may concern, I venture to suggest a few facts in
point before his sweeping condemnation of a surgical
remedy be accepted, and I therefore ask aucli
alterttm partem.' Colonel Maude quotes,—` It is a
painful operation' and never done under the influence
of anwsthetics.' Now, what the general practice in
favour of their use may be I am scarcely in a posi-
tion to say, but there is no reason it should
not be universal, it is many years ago that I was in-
vited to administer chloroform at the Royal Mews to
one of Her Majesty's horses, during an operation, in
presence of C Aonel Maude and many gentlemen, and
on its acknowledged success I instructed Her Majesty's
veterinary surgeon, the late Mr. Langworthy, in the
process by which I had years before that time been in
the constant habit of using chloroform in my opera-
tions, and I have the greatest sat sfaction in feeling
that in the performance of hundreds of operations I
have made it my invariable practice to use this
anmsthetic. There is no difficulty in administering it to
horses, and I believe there is an extreme minimum of risk,
for 1 never met with an untoward result ; therefore, if
'firing' be a necessity, it can be always so performed ab-
solutely painlessly. The after pain from firing is, I
honestly believe, not greater than that resulting from a
blister over equal extent of surfaces, judging from the
expression of the animals under the respective influ-
ences, and I think surgeons will be enabled to bear me
out by their experience. On the question of neces-
sity I can fully corroborate the testimony of Colonel
Maude in respect of his long superintendence of Her
M.sjesty's stud, and his finding the operation of 'firing'
totally unnecessary there, and its never being had
recourse to. The occasion for this operation in a stud FO
circumstanced is rarely likely to occur, and the remedy
would be obviously undesirable; but, with the greatest
respect and deference to Colonel Maude, I venture
to believe masters of hounds and owners of horses
which are required for cross-country purposes, par
excel ence. will scarcely acquiesce in the conclusion
watch the gentleman has expressed. I would not
fpr an instant sanction the infliction of needless
sbffering on any animal, and I glory to feel that among
tile most humane men may also be numbered members
,f my profet-sion, but when I know that this operation
an be performed painlessly and that the good result is
tuquestiona
ble: I, :"..o_tinbFe s:: a
cord to redeem the practice from unmerited con-
ienination." I:at t,
fi
TsER F6EY OF THE STREET!"..
Hai! 4 • • ' • tr"
Years ago—l won't mention how many—
LI wrli
(0 the footsteps of Tempus are fleet 9 tud
• When as fresh as a newly-coined penny, --
I was given, "The key of the streeLt •
I was careless, and hated restriction, "
S 3 my freedom I held as a treat. -
The world's oyster, I felt a conviction,
Opened best to "Toe key of the street."
And when I had married my Polly,
My comfort was nearly complete ;
That a house with no latch-key's not jolly,—
She locked up "The key of the street."

Iliw

Wife and house are no more !—poor and lonely
I sleep in the parks on a seat ;
But one joy I now hold, and one only,—
I still have "The key of the street!