92 THE ARMY IIOKSE. 



Symj)toms. — -At first there is simply an increased moisture 

 in the cleft of the frog, accompanied by an offensive smell. 

 After a time the discharge is more profuse, then "watery and 

 highly offensive, changing gradually to a thick ])utrid matter 

 which rapidh' destroys the horn of the frog. 



Treatment. — Remove the cause; keep stalls clean and dry. 

 Pare away all loose j^ortions of the horn, so as to expose the 

 diseased parts; clean thoroughly by washing with warm 

 water; dry witli oakum and pack with powdered alum, calo- 

 mel, or copper sulphate; if the dressing will not remain in 

 place use a leather boot. 



CANKER. 



Canker is a disease of the frog and sole, marked by an offen- 

 sive-smelling chees}^ discharge, by a softening and breaking 

 down of the horny sole, and a spongy enlargement of the horny 

 frog. When this disease follows an injury which has exposed 

 the soft structures of the foot, it soon causes a separation of 

 the soft and horny jDortions, presenting a very unhealthy 

 appearance and discharging a thin, watery fluid. 



Causes. — Canker is generally believed to be caused by a vege- 

 table parasite, the development of which is assisted by filthy 

 stables or low, wet ground. 



Treatment. — That part of the frog or sole that has been 

 underrun must be removed with the knife and the canker 

 exposed ; the unhealthy growth is then touched with a red-hot 

 iron, burning it off level with the surrounding healthy struc- 

 tures, care being exercised not to injure the sensitive portions 

 of the foot. Next, wash clean, then dry and apply the follow- 

 ing powder: Equal parts of sulphate of zinc, sulphate of iron, 

 and sulphate of copper. Place over this a pad of oakum, and 

 over all a leather boot. This dressing must be changed once a 

 day (twice a day in bad cases) ; treatment is continued until 

 a healths growth of horn covers the Avhole foot. The horse 

 can now be shod. Pack the foot with oakum and tar and cover 

 with a leather sole, which is held in place by j:he shoe. 



If it is desirable to change dressings on the shod foot, a more 

 convenient appliance to keep them in place is made in the fol- 

 lowing manner: Cut a piece of sheet zinc to cover about two- 

 thirds of the sole and frog, the outer edge of the piece fitting 

 under the shoe; cut another piece to cover the remaining third 

 and wide enough to lap over the first piece, the lap to run 



