DISEASES OF CATTLE 451 



of their feet and become lame from foot soreness. Draft oxen, for 

 this reason, require to be shod. When the soreness is excessive it 

 may develop into an active inflammation of all the sensitive struc- 

 tures of the foot laminitis or into a local bruise commonly called 

 a corn. 



Treatment. Rest, poulticing the feet with moistened clay, fol- 

 lowed by astringent washes strong white-oak bark or alum water. 



If the pain and heat last several days, it is probable that pus has 

 formed beneath the wall of the hoof. In this case it is necessary to 

 cut through the wall, usually at the most prominent part of the sole, 

 to allow the accumulation to drain out. The animal should then be 

 caused to stand for several hours daily in a tub containing creolin 

 solution (3 per cent). When not in the creolin solution the foot 

 should be dressed with pine tar and cotton and bandaged with 

 bagging. 



LOSS OF HOOP. 



Cattle sometimes become fastened between planks or otherwise 

 and pull off the wall of one or both claws in the effort to extricate 

 themselves. The claws of one or more feet may be shed as the re- 

 sult of acute laminitis. 



Treatment. Wash the bleeding surface with an antiseptic and 

 then with an astringent, as a weak solution of alum, then apply a 

 thick coating of pine tar; cover this with a layer of oakum or ab- 

 sorbent cotton ; apply another coat of tar over this, and then band- 

 age closely and firmly. This may remain without disturbance until 

 the new growing wall becomes sufficiently strong to sustain the pres- 

 sure and weight of the animal. If, however, at any time it becomes 

 manifest by oozing or bad smell that pus is forming under this dress- 

 ing, the bandage should be removed and the suppurating surface 

 freshly cleaned and dressed. This may have to be repeated every 

 few days, and should be continued so long as there is any pus forma- 

 tion. If the loss of hoof is due to suppurative laminitis, the parts 

 denuded of the horny covering must be thoroughly cleansed and 

 disinfected with carbolic acid, creolin, lysol, or other antiseptic. 

 Then apply a moderately thick layer of absorbent cotton, and apply 

 the tar and bandage over this. After this the antiseptic solution 

 may be poured in at the top of the dressing daily. It will thus soak 

 in and saturate the dressing and inflamed tissue. It may become 

 necessary to remove the whole of the dressing at daily or longer in- 

 tervals to give the parts a fresh cleaning, and then to reapply it. 



FOUL IN FOOT (FOOT ROT). 



A variety of causes may produce inflammation of the foot be- 

 tween the claws or toes. It may be due to overgrowth of the claws 

 and inward pressure, as in ingrowing nail of man; or it may be 

 caused by the irritation of stable filth, to impaction and hardening 

 of soil between the claws, or to other foreign substances becoming 

 wedged in and causing inflammation and softening or ulceration of 

 the skin in the interdigital space. Under some conditions several 

 cattle in the same herd become affected, and this has led some to 

 think that the disease may be contagious. Occurrences have been 



