150 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Tnashes, grass, or hay. When the animal is not standing in water, 

 place him in a well-bedded stall to encourage him to lie do"s\Ti and 

 rest his feet, or he may be placed in slings. 



If after two or three days of this treatment no improvement ia 

 observed, change to hot baths or packs, being sure that they extend 

 as high as the knees. 



As soon as the pain has diminished moderate exercise may be 

 given and gradually increased until lameness has disappeared. If 

 there is no improvement after five or six days of such exercise, apply 

 a cantharides blister to the coronet and repeat in two weeks if nec- 

 essary. 



452. Bruises of the sole and frog. 



Causes. — Stepping on stones or other hard objects. 



Symptoms. — Sudden and more or less severe lameness. In many 

 cases the toe only is placed on the ground . The foot is hot, there is 

 marked throbbing in the digital arteries, and the use of the tester 

 causes great pain. 



Treatment. — Stand the animal in cold water or apply cold poultices 

 to the foot. If, after two or three davs of this treatment the foot is 

 still hot and painful, change to poultices of hot flaxseed meal. If 

 pus forms, remove the underrun horn and treat as directed for sup- 

 purating corns, paragraph 454. 



453. Canker. — A chronic disease of the corium of the frog and 

 sole. 



Causes. — Filth and moisture. It often results from a neglected 

 case of thrush and from injuries which expose the soft structures of 

 the sole and frog. 



Symptoms. — The frog becomes large and spongy and the diseased 

 area is covered with a half-dried, cheesy material, the odor of which 

 is disgusting. The disease may spread until the entire frog, bars, 

 sole, and even the wall may become involved, all having a spongy 

 appearance and bleeding freely. Lameness is usually absent. 



Treatment. — Pare the foot down carefullj^, remove all underrun 

 horn, and clean the exposed parts with creolin, 1 ounce in 20 ounces 

 of water. The soft spongy^ material must then be removed with 

 the scissors. Profuse bleeding usually follows, and a pressure dress- 

 ing of cotton and oakum must be applied to check it. This dressing 

 is left in place for two or three hours, after w^hich it must be removed 

 and the foot wiped dry with cotton. The diseased area is then thor- 

 oughly powdered over with the three sulphates and a pressure dress- 

 ing applied. Repeat this dressing daily until a new growth of horn 



