82 MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 



pliate of copper, iron, and zinc), calomel, etc., can also be used. In 

 badly contracted feet shoeing with bar shoes, leather pads and tar 

 and oakum is advisable, to restore the frog to a healthy condition. 



CANKER. 



79. Canker is a chronic disease of the corium of the frog and sole, 

 characterized by enlargement and a spongy, vascular condition. 



Causes. — Eilth and moisture, commonly resulting from neglected 

 thrush; injuries which expose the soft structures and do not receive 

 proper treatment and protection. 



Symptoms. — The diseased area is covered with a foul, moist, 

 cheesy material, and the villi are greatly enlarged and softer than 

 normal. The moisture causes a softening and loosening of the 

 normal horn at the edges of the diseased area, which thus becomes 

 larger, until the entire frog, bars, sole, and even the wall may become 

 diseased and have a general spongy appearance and bleed readily. 

 Lameness is usually absent. 



Treatment. — First pare the foot down thoroughly, removing all 

 imderrun horn, and give it a good cleaning with a strong creolin 

 solution. The soft, spongy material must then be entirely removed 

 with the knife or scissors. Bleeding is usually profuse. A pressiue 

 dressing of cotton and oakum can be applied to check the hemor- 

 rhage, and left in place for a couple of hours. It should then be 

 removed and the foot wiped dry with cotton and covered A\T.th pine 

 tar, which keeps moisture away and is an antiseptic, protective 

 dressing; over this a large mass of oakum should be applied and 

 held firmly in place by a foot bandage. Place the horse in a well 

 bedded stall, which is"^ to be kept dry and clean. The treatment 

 should be repeated at intervals of four or five days, keeping the foot 

 thoroughly trimmed and applying large masses of oakum to produce 

 much pressure over the diseased area. As the parts become normal 

 the soft, cheesy material becomes gradually firmer and more flaky, 

 and the new horn fills in from the edges or from small centers until 

 the entire area becomes covered with a healthy horny layer. The 

 following solution may be used : 



Formalin 1 part. 



50 per cent alcohol 9 parts. 



Bichloride of mercury 2 drams. 



50 per cent alcohol 5 ounces. 



Apply lightly, and when dry apply dressing. 



