TREADS AND INJURIES TO THE CORONET. 1061 



Diagnosis is rarely difficult, though in horses with long hair about 

 the feet some little care is required to discover the injury. When 

 necrosis sets in it may be doubtful whether the original injury was a 

 tread, or whether we have to deal with a case of spontaneous necrosis. 

 Brushing, and similar injuries, produce wounds resembling those 

 caused by treads both in course and consequences. 



Treatment. The first and most important precaution is to clean 

 and disinfect the bruise. The hair which has been thrust into it 

 by the heels of the other shoe, and infective material which is always 

 introduced, should as far as possible be removed. The surrounding 

 hair is clipped away, and any loose shreds of dead tissue excised. 

 The entire foot, particularly the coronet, is then washed and the 

 wound soaked with carbolic solution, or, if time allow, the foot may 

 be immersed in a bath of antiseptic solution. The wound may also 

 be sponged out or injected with a 10 per cent, solution of chloride 

 of zinc. If the coronary band be much swollen, the horn should 

 be rasped away over an area corresponding to the swelling before the 

 final dressing is applied. Moist carbolic or sublimate dressings are 

 preferable, and after the wound has been dusted with iodoform, a 

 mass of tow, moistened with a disinfectant, is applied, the whole 

 being covered with several large tampons of oakum, which are held 

 in position by bandages. Excessive pressure must be avoided. 

 If the dressing be too tightly applied, it not only increases pain, but 

 favours necrosis in the region of the coronet. Once the dressing 

 is applied, it can he kept moist by pouring over it several times a day 

 a disinfecting fluid. If pain diminishes and the dressing is not 

 saturated with discharge, the latter may be left in position for two or 

 three days, otherwise it should at once be renewed. Should sup- 

 puration occur, the moist dressing should be replaced by a dry one. 



Particular care is required during cicatrisation ; horn formation 

 at the coronet should be discouraged until all swelling has disappeared. 

 Should it occur, the parts may be moistened with a -5 per cent, caustic 

 potash or soap solution, which will check the hardening of the new 

 horn until inflammatory swellings disappear. Irregular cicatrisation 

 must be treated in a similar way. 



Very little can be done to prevent abnormal growth of horn on 

 the coronet. If such growth only affects a small area — if, for instance, 

 the base is no bigger than a five-shilling piece — the newly-formed 

 mass may be completely cut away, which will improve matters, 

 and may possibly result in complete cure. This becomes necessary 

 when the growth overhangs the wall, and, as is often the case, maintains 

 chronic suppuration around its base. The entire base is cut away 



