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MR. FENWICK IN REPLY TO MR. TURNER ON THE OPERATION OF "FIRING."
901 to work
requires great dexterity, tact, talent,
and nerve ;" and I think he might as well have added, an eye possessing as great an optic power as the most powerful microwith a firing iron, although red-hot, scope, To the Editor of THE LANCET. invisible to the naked eye, for he says it is SIR,—I BEG to offer a few remarks on Mr. to be done with all due caution ; then, with Turner’s opinions on firing, considering them all due deference to Mr. Turner’s deep knowof a dangerous tendency, and rendered much ledge, let me inquire how he avoids cauteris· more so by being presented to the public ing and dividing the important nerves, arteof so widely and de- ries,and veins, that are immediately under the through the servedly circulated ajournal as THE LANCET. skin, and under which great part of the celluNotwithstanding Mr. Turner’s assertion of lar tissue he describes also lies.* Why, in his whole life having been sedulously em- fact, if Mr. Turner fires so deeply as he ployed in the veterinary science, I take the would have us believe, it is evident that he liberty of informing him, though I do not must scorch or divide the horse’s nerves doubt but that he is well aware, there are with the actual cautery. But after all, Mr. many others that have been much longer, Turner has not condescended to inform us and equally zealous in the cause as himself, in what period his patients recover, a point and who have had equally as good, if not of the deepest importance to the owner; better, opportunities of witnessing and, atbut he says it would fill a volume to describe which the same time, are fully capable otjudgingofthe fore and after treatment, &c., the effects of firing. In the rough country, this deep plan requires. In this I sincerely says Mr. Turner, where he practised, (de- believe him,; and have not the least doubt scribing the worst kind of exertion, he but that many months must frequently alludes to hunting, which duty I believe elapse before the poor suffering animal is the horse is not called on to perform oftener relieved from the effect of this unnecessary than twice or three times a week, and that torture, to say nothing about the sequel. only for about four months,) the most It may be, perhaps, said, How can the ani? severe injuries and diseased joints occur, mal be in torture if the nerves are divided and on this he grounds his practice. Now What! Are the inflammation and sloughing, in London alone, I mean to say, we have as which are certain to follow, nothing ? But, says many, if not more, diseases requiring the Mr. Turner, " neither I nor my brother suffer the excessive irritation and conaid of the firing irons, than are to Ibe found in ever the whole county of Surrey, and positively stitutional disturbance to steal a day’s march assert, that, independent of my own prac- on us." (Fortunate men ! ) In this I must tice, I have seen and known a great many confess, if true, Messrs. Turner are luckier horses successfully fired in the common me- practitioners than your humble servant ; thod by various practitioners. Mr. Turner for in the few instances that have come is even compelled to admit that firing is under my observation when the animal may successfully resorted to all over the country, happen to have made a sudden and violent and if he would have us believe that they all struggle before the iron could be withdrawn, and every-where cauterise through the skin, and it has unfortunately gone through the then Mr. Turner’s deep method is nothing skin and burnt the cellular tissue, but withnew; if they do not,why in his opinion it was out injuring either tendon, ligament, or of no avail whatever. Nosv if this had been periosteum, I have invariably found inflamthe real state of the case, we can only rea. mation and sloughing follow, and many sonably presume that firing would have long months have even elapsed before the poor since sunk into oblivion; but such is not the animal has been again fit for service, and in fact, therefore it must be admitted that the one instance I recollect the animal became present mode that is practised by experi. nearly useless from the consequences. Mr. enced individuals, is a good one ; and this Turner wishes to make it appear that the the profession at large will, I feel confident, use of the actual cautery is nearly abolished admit, and even Mr. Turnerj himself, I in the metropolis. In this respect he is really hope, on a little deeper reflection, if he is greatly mistaken; and during my practice of not too much wedded to his "monstrous pre- thirty years I have never known the utility called in question, or fail in its sumption." But further, in order to put of the case beyond all cavil, I will suppose effects in a general point of view; it is only Mr. Turner called on to fire a diseased fet- condemned by those who could not properly lock-joint, a case of frequent occurrence; * would he then make the red-hot iron pass Any person desirous of ascertaining boldly through the skin by crucial incisions this fact, may satisfy themselves by callinr 0 till itreached the cellular tissue immediately at my residence, where they will see the covering the ligaments, tendons, perios- whole structure (skin excepted) exhibited MR. FENWICK IN REPLY TO MR. TURNER ON THE OPERATION OF "FIRING."
medium
firing
team, &c.
He says,
"
To go thus
fearlessly
at one view.
902
INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MISS CASHIN.
perform the operation, and 1 call upon Alr. which could influence the minds of the jury Turner to inform me when and where lie has in the forthcoming trial. ever seen the highly-talented professor of As the presence of the Editor of this the Veterinary College, or the assistant, Mr. manner. in a skilful I Journal at the Inquest has been by some Sewell, give the fire believe there is not an old farrier to be found deemed obtrusive, we think it right that in the country, that would not be ashamed the members of the profession should be 6f his calling, on seeing such specimens of as I have there seen attributed to firing put in possession of the circumstances which the deputy. Now Sir, I do not pretend to led him to assume the character of a medical any great knowledge in human surgery, but as Mr. Turner proposes firing through the advocate on that occasion. Late on Friday skin by crucial incision, merely to set the two gentlemen called at the residence of over-distended capsular ligament at liberty I night Mr. WAKLEY, and stated that an inquest would not the knife be more humane, rather ’i than run the risk of the excessive was to be held on the body of a young lady and dangerous sloughing, which I have every who had been under the treatment of Jom reason to believe would follow Mr. Turner’s JOHN LoNG; that her life had termi. proposed horrid and monstrous operation. ST. Mr. Turner, I perceive, has extended his nated almost suddenly, aud under circum. deep firing also to the canine species. POOR stances which appeared to demand a rigid ANIMALS ! I hope this plan will not long continue in use, such a practice being unnecesthat the sister of the de. sarily cruel, and barbarous in the extreme, ceased young lady, who also had been under whether practised on man or brute. I have LONGS care, was in a dying state, and not entered into the true rationale and effects of Bring, trusting some one more able only expected to survive a few hours; that will handle that part of the subject, which family was[from the sister kingdom, Mr. Turner does not appear to me fully to and that the mother and brother-in-law, comprehend. I am, Sir,
irritation
investigation ; Mr.
the
Your most obedient servant, GEORGE FENWICK, Vet. Surg. Grosvenor Mews, Mews, Bond Street,
I quite strangers
to
London,
were
suffering
intense anguish, were half August 24, 1830. distracted, and knew not what course to adopt; that the brother-in-law, Mr. SWEETMAN, had been strongly urged to request the Editor to attend the inquest, THE LANCET. and act for the family, in order that the ends London, Saturday, Sept. 4, 1830. of public justice might not be defeated. In with the wishes of the relatives, THE protracted Inquest which was held two gentlemen observed, they had then the of the unfortunate Miss called. upon body Mr. WAKLEY pointed out tothem that CASHIN, has terminated in a verdict of his appearance at the inquest at that time, manslaughter against JOHN ST. JOHN LONG. as he was a candidate for the office of Our peculiar position in this unhappy pro- Coroner, would to many persons have a very ceeding enjoins upon us the strict observ- disagreeable appearance, and, in the absence ance of silence ; we shall offer, therefore, no of explanation, would at first sight indi. opinion upon the merits or the demerits of cate bad taste, if not defective judgment. the case, but content ourselves with insert- Moreover, he represented to them, that having an article taken from The Times, and ing long ago denounced Mr. LONG as a another from The Medico-Chirurgical lee- quack and an imposter, his appearing, as viem. After the trial of ST. JOHN LONG, it were, against Mr. LoNG, might be shall not hesitate to speak out boldly; thought to partake of vindictiveness. He but at present, as we stand almost as the therefore refused, in the most positive prosecutor of Mr. LONG, it would not be just manner, to take any part in the proceedings, if one word were to proceed from our pen, unless he received, on the following mom.. the
most
compliance
-
we
the
requires great dexterity, tact, talent,
and nerve ;" and I think he might as well have added, an eye possessing as great an optic power as the most powerful microwith a firing iron, although red-hot, scope, To the Editor of THE LANCET. invisible to the naked eye, for he says it is SIR,—I BEG to offer a few remarks on Mr. to be done with all due caution ; then, with Turner’s opinions on firing, considering them all due deference to Mr. Turner’s deep knowof a dangerous tendency, and rendered much ledge, let me inquire how he avoids cauteris· more so by being presented to the public ing and dividing the important nerves, arteof so widely and de- ries,and veins, that are immediately under the through the servedly circulated ajournal as THE LANCET. skin, and under which great part of the celluNotwithstanding Mr. Turner’s assertion of lar tissue he describes also lies.* Why, in his whole life having been sedulously em- fact, if Mr. Turner fires so deeply as he ployed in the veterinary science, I take the would have us believe, it is evident that he liberty of informing him, though I do not must scorch or divide the horse’s nerves doubt but that he is well aware, there are with the actual cautery. But after all, Mr. many others that have been much longer, Turner has not condescended to inform us and equally zealous in the cause as himself, in what period his patients recover, a point and who have had equally as good, if not of the deepest importance to the owner; better, opportunities of witnessing and, atbut he says it would fill a volume to describe which the same time, are fully capable otjudgingofthe fore and after treatment, &c., the effects of firing. In the rough country, this deep plan requires. In this I sincerely says Mr. Turner, where he practised, (de- believe him,; and have not the least doubt scribing the worst kind of exertion, he but that many months must frequently alludes to hunting, which duty I believe elapse before the poor suffering animal is the horse is not called on to perform oftener relieved from the effect of this unnecessary than twice or three times a week, and that torture, to say nothing about the sequel. only for about four months,) the most It may be, perhaps, said, How can the ani? severe injuries and diseased joints occur, mal be in torture if the nerves are divided and on this he grounds his practice. Now What! Are the inflammation and sloughing, in London alone, I mean to say, we have as which are certain to follow, nothing ? But, says many, if not more, diseases requiring the Mr. Turner, " neither I nor my brother suffer the excessive irritation and conaid of the firing irons, than are to Ibe found in ever the whole county of Surrey, and positively stitutional disturbance to steal a day’s march assert, that, independent of my own prac- on us." (Fortunate men ! ) In this I must tice, I have seen and known a great many confess, if true, Messrs. Turner are luckier horses successfully fired in the common me- practitioners than your humble servant ; thod by various practitioners. Mr. Turner for in the few instances that have come is even compelled to admit that firing is under my observation when the animal may successfully resorted to all over the country, happen to have made a sudden and violent and if he would have us believe that they all struggle before the iron could be withdrawn, and every-where cauterise through the skin, and it has unfortunately gone through the then Mr. Turner’s deep method is nothing skin and burnt the cellular tissue, but withnew; if they do not,why in his opinion it was out injuring either tendon, ligament, or of no avail whatever. Nosv if this had been periosteum, I have invariably found inflamthe real state of the case, we can only rea. mation and sloughing follow, and many sonably presume that firing would have long months have even elapsed before the poor since sunk into oblivion; but such is not the animal has been again fit for service, and in fact, therefore it must be admitted that the one instance I recollect the animal became present mode that is practised by experi. nearly useless from the consequences. Mr. enced individuals, is a good one ; and this Turner wishes to make it appear that the the profession at large will, I feel confident, use of the actual cautery is nearly abolished admit, and even Mr. Turnerj himself, I in the metropolis. In this respect he is really hope, on a little deeper reflection, if he is greatly mistaken; and during my practice of not too much wedded to his "monstrous pre- thirty years I have never known the utility called in question, or fail in its sumption." But further, in order to put of the case beyond all cavil, I will suppose effects in a general point of view; it is only Mr. Turner called on to fire a diseased fet- condemned by those who could not properly lock-joint, a case of frequent occurrence; * would he then make the red-hot iron pass Any person desirous of ascertaining boldly through the skin by crucial incisions this fact, may satisfy themselves by callinr 0 till itreached the cellular tissue immediately at my residence, where they will see the covering the ligaments, tendons, perios- whole structure (skin excepted) exhibited MR. FENWICK IN REPLY TO MR. TURNER ON THE OPERATION OF "FIRING."
medium
firing
team, &c.
He says,
"
To go thus
fearlessly
at one view.
902
INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MISS CASHIN.
perform the operation, and 1 call upon Alr. which could influence the minds of the jury Turner to inform me when and where lie has in the forthcoming trial. ever seen the highly-talented professor of As the presence of the Editor of this the Veterinary College, or the assistant, Mr. manner. in a skilful I Journal at the Inquest has been by some Sewell, give the fire believe there is not an old farrier to be found deemed obtrusive, we think it right that in the country, that would not be ashamed the members of the profession should be 6f his calling, on seeing such specimens of as I have there seen attributed to firing put in possession of the circumstances which the deputy. Now Sir, I do not pretend to led him to assume the character of a medical any great knowledge in human surgery, but as Mr. Turner proposes firing through the advocate on that occasion. Late on Friday skin by crucial incision, merely to set the two gentlemen called at the residence of over-distended capsular ligament at liberty I night Mr. WAKLEY, and stated that an inquest would not the knife be more humane, rather ’i than run the risk of the excessive was to be held on the body of a young lady and dangerous sloughing, which I have every who had been under the treatment of Jom reason to believe would follow Mr. Turner’s JOHN LoNG; that her life had termi. proposed horrid and monstrous operation. ST. Mr. Turner, I perceive, has extended his nated almost suddenly, aud under circum. deep firing also to the canine species. POOR stances which appeared to demand a rigid ANIMALS ! I hope this plan will not long continue in use, such a practice being unnecesthat the sister of the de. sarily cruel, and barbarous in the extreme, ceased young lady, who also had been under whether practised on man or brute. I have LONGS care, was in a dying state, and not entered into the true rationale and effects of Bring, trusting some one more able only expected to survive a few hours; that will handle that part of the subject, which family was[from the sister kingdom, Mr. Turner does not appear to me fully to and that the mother and brother-in-law, comprehend. I am, Sir,
irritation
investigation ; Mr.
the
Your most obedient servant, GEORGE FENWICK, Vet. Surg. Grosvenor Mews, Mews, Bond Street,
I quite strangers
to
London,
were
suffering
intense anguish, were half August 24, 1830. distracted, and knew not what course to adopt; that the brother-in-law, Mr. SWEETMAN, had been strongly urged to request the Editor to attend the inquest, THE LANCET. and act for the family, in order that the ends London, Saturday, Sept. 4, 1830. of public justice might not be defeated. In with the wishes of the relatives, THE protracted Inquest which was held two gentlemen observed, they had then the of the unfortunate Miss called. upon body Mr. WAKLEY pointed out tothem that CASHIN, has terminated in a verdict of his appearance at the inquest at that time, manslaughter against JOHN ST. JOHN LONG. as he was a candidate for the office of Our peculiar position in this unhappy pro- Coroner, would to many persons have a very ceeding enjoins upon us the strict observ- disagreeable appearance, and, in the absence ance of silence ; we shall offer, therefore, no of explanation, would at first sight indi. opinion upon the merits or the demerits of cate bad taste, if not defective judgment. the case, but content ourselves with insert- Moreover, he represented to them, that having an article taken from The Times, and ing long ago denounced Mr. LONG as a another from The Medico-Chirurgical lee- quack and an imposter, his appearing, as viem. After the trial of ST. JOHN LONG, it were, against Mr. LoNG, might be shall not hesitate to speak out boldly; thought to partake of vindictiveness. He but at present, as we stand almost as the therefore refused, in the most positive prosecutor of Mr. LONG, it would not be just manner, to take any part in the proceedings, if one word were to proceed from our pen, unless he received, on the following mom.. the
most
compliance
-
we
the