Flat Bladed Firing iron (113)

Object/Artifact

-

Waterperry Museum

Firing iron

Firing iron

Name/Title

Flat Bladed Firing iron (113)

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.1019

Description

Metal instrument with wooden handle. Blacksmith made, with a quarter shaped blade, the cutting side being on the curved long edge

Context

According to Arthur Ingram in 'The Country Doctor' the practice used to cure lameness in horses was called "firing', which was thought to relieve deep seated inflammation responsible for lameness, by exciting pain in more superficial parts. The hair was closely clipped from the area to be 'fired' . The firing iron, as pictured here, was heated until red-hot. It was then drawn in parallel lines over the clipped area, lightly searing the flesh. Towards the end of the 1900s chloroform was normally administered to relieve suffering and firing slowly gave way to the application of blistering creams.

Cataloged By

Felix Lam

Category

Animal Husbandry

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Source or Donor

Gordon Dempster

Acquisition Method

Transfer

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

113

Dimensions

Length

730 mm

Weight

500 g

Dimension Notes

Circumference handle 115 mm; circumference stem 45 mm; width of blade 175 mm

Material

Iron, Wood

Location

* Untyped Location

WW upper

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Notes

Ingram, A. The Country Doctor, Shire, 1979, Shire Album 40, Shire Publications Ltd.