172 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



lead an inexperienced person to suppose the discharge of 

 little consequence. In this, however, thej will be sadly 

 mistaken ; for most serious mischief lurks within, and the 

 difficulty of removing it is extremely great. In this state 

 of the disease, although the fistula is of very small dimen- 

 sions, yet the eifects of this confined matter will have 

 extended over almost the entire quarter, and the horny 

 sole may be separated from the foot. The matter may have 

 penetrated and lodged beneath the ligaments and cartilages 

 of the coffin-joint ; and besides, the pressure of the matter, 

 wherever it has forced its way to, will have formed ulcera- 

 tions which are most difficult to heal, and the horn which 

 has been thus separated from the sensible parts below will 

 never unite with them again, thus producing an evil of the 

 worst description. 



Remedies. — It must be evident that this is a case which 

 can only be successfully treated by a skilful veterinary 

 surgeon. In most instances of such cases, it becomes neces- 

 sary to remove the greater portion of the horny sole, and 

 thereafter restore the healthy state of the tender surface 

 beneath. When this has been effected, the horn will 

 quickly be reproduced. But in cases where much of the 

 sole has been removed, it will take at least six months to 

 restore fully that which has been removed, so that the horse 

 may again be subjected to labour. 



To restore the heallhy condition of the foot, very active 

 means must be adopted. Caustic applications alone will 

 destroy the ulcerated surface. To ascertain the state of the 

 disease, a probe must be used, and if it touches any of the 

 bones, it is doubtful whether a cure £an be effected even by 

 the most skilful. One thing is certain, if it is found when 

 the probe is inserted into the fistulous openings on the 

 coronet, that the direction of the sinuses is backwards, it 



