420 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



rouiili loads, and, finally, when the sole and frog are largely destroyed 

 the lameness is severe. 



T reatment. — Since canker does not destroy- the power of the tissues 

 to i)ro(lnce horn, but rather excites them to an excessive production 

 of an imperfect horn, the indications for treatment are to restore the 

 parts to a normal condition, when healthy horn may again be secreted. 

 In my experience, limited though it has been, the old practice of 

 stripping off the entire sole and deep cauterization, with either the 

 hot iron or strong acids, is not attended with uniformly good results. 



I am of the opinion that recovery can generalh' be effected as sureh' 

 and as speedily with measures which are less heroic and much less 

 })ainful. True, the treatment of canker is likely to exhaust the 

 patience, and sometimes the resources, of tb.e attendant; but after 

 all success; depends more on the persistent application of sim})le 

 remedies and great cleanliness than on the special virtues of any 

 particular drug. 



First, then, clean the foot Avith warm baths and apply a poultice 

 containing ])owdered charcoal or carbolic acid. A handful of the 

 charcoal or a tablespoonful of the acid mixed with the poultice serves 

 to destroy much of the offensive odor. The diseased portions of 

 horn are to be carefully removed w^ith-sharp instruments, until only 

 healthy horn borders the affected parts. The edges of the sound 

 horn are to be pared thin, so that the swollen soft tissues may not 

 overlaj:) their borders. With sharp scissors cut oft' all the prominent 

 points on the soft tissues, shorten the walls of the foot, and nail on a 

 broad, plain shoe. The foot is now ready for the dressings, and any 

 of the many stimulating and drj^ng remedies may be used; ])ut it 

 will be necessary to change frequently from one to another, until 

 finally all may be tried. 



The list from which a selection may be made comprises wood tar, 

 gas tar, peti'oleum. creosote, phenic acid; sulphates of iron, copper, 

 and zinc; chlorid of zinc, bichlorid of mercury, calomel, caustic 

 soda, nitrate of silver, chlorid of lime: carbolic, nitric, and sulphuric 

 acids. 



In practice I prefer to give the newly shod foot a bath for an hour 

 or two in a solution of the sulphate of iron made by adding 2 ounces 

 of the powdered sulphate to a gallon of cold water. Wlien the foot 

 is removed from the bath it is dressed with oakum balls dipped in a 

 mixture made of Barbados tar 1 part, oil of turpentine 8 parts, to 

 which is slowly added 2 parts of sulphuric acid, and the mixture Avell 

 stirred and cooled. The diseased parts being well covered with the 

 bails, a pad of oalaim sufficiently thick to cause considerable pressure 

 is placed over them, and all are held in place by pieces of heavy tin 

 fitted to slip under the shoe. The whole foot is now incased in a 

 boot or folded gunny sack and the patient turned into a loose, 



