8 Oct., 1907.] 



Diseases of Farm Aiii Dials. 



637 



powder may be used. A mixture of equal parts of tincture of myrrh and 

 butyr of antimony is a good dressing in the first stages of treatment. 

 Thorough cleanliness is essential tO' a cure, which should be brought about 

 in most cases within a fortnight. In severe cases, with rawness of the 

 sensitive structures and ulceration, the part will in the first instance need 

 to be treated like an ordinary wound. 



Canker. 



This very intractable disease is a sub-acute inflammation of the horn 

 secreting membrane of the .sode and frog, resulting in destruction of the 

 texture of the formed horn, and in the formation of a soft cheesy -looking 

 horn and fungoid granulations, from which exudes a foul -smelling, irri- 

 tant, ichorous, and infective fluid. It is, in fact, an aggravated con- 

 dition of Thrush, involving the whole of the ground surface of the foot, 

 and is usually due to the same causes when acting intensely. The pro- 

 gress of the disease is slow and insidious, and not accompanied by much 

 pain, But it is very persistent and diflirult to cure. (See Fig. 104.) 



Fig. 104. Hoof affected with c inker. The disease has involved the frog and 

 part of the sole at one heel and has extended to the coronet at the back. The 

 diseased part is now a mass of spongy moist and foul smelling horn. (After 



Reeks.) 



Treatment. — The essential point in treatment is the removal of all 

 diseased horn and tissue of any kind, even to the extent of stripping the 

 sole off completely. Strong 'antiseptic dressings of such substances as 

 creosote, calcium carbide or corrosive sublimate are sometimes employed 

 with success. Caustics, such as bluestone (sulphate of copper), bichromate 

 of potash, or caustic lime may be used, but they are seldoin in themselves 

 permanently effective ; nor is the application of the hot iron. Such treat- 

 ment needs to be accompanied by sole and frog pressure applied by means 

 of carbolized tow packings, or in some other way. In this connexion 

 the records of a case I treated with full success some years ago may be 

 profitably quoted. 



