592 



OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



of the feet of solipeds, seated in the secreting tissues of the horny 

 box, always beginning at the frog, and characterized by alteration 

 of the homy secretion. Names of a more scientific meaning have 

 frequently been proposed, such as gnawing ulcer (Bourgelat), 

 schirrus or cancerous carcinoma of the frog, carcinoma of the 

 reticular tissue of the foot (Vatel), darter of t?ie plantar cushion, 

 chronic podoj)arencJiyder7nitis (Mercier), and epithelioma of the 

 frog (Fuchs). None of these has ever been accepted, and the old 

 hipj)iatric name has been retained. 



History. — It is conceded that the old veterinaiians were ac- 

 quainted with canker, and Vegetius evidently speaks of it, but not 

 until the time of Solleysel do we find a descriiDtion somewhat 

 comj)lete of the disease and its treatment ; Garsault, La Gueri- 

 niere, Weyrother and others spoke of it, and have expressed 

 various opinions as to its etiology, and especially as to its treat- 

 ment. So little progress was discernible in the writings of Bour- 

 gelat, Chabert, Huzard and Gii'ard, on that very question, and so 

 many false ideas were admitted, that Chabert in despair has called 

 canker the opprobrium of veterinary medicine. 



It is but recently that serious research as to the natm'e of 

 the disease have thrown some hght on the question, and estab- 

 lished the important fact that its seat is not in the disorganized 

 horn, but in the secreting organs, and that there is an alteration 

 in the products of this secretion ; that it is consequently to these 

 that remedies must be appHed. 



We might refer to the writings of Jeannie, Crepin, Hurtrel 

 d'Ai-boval, Prevost, Mercier, Plasse, Percivall, Dietrichs, Eichbaum, 

 Wells, H. Bouley, KejTial, Haubner, Fuchs, Eey, Megnin, etc., 

 each of whom has furnished his contingent, while still the inti- 

 mate nature of the disease remains but imperfectly known, and 

 there is but little certainty either in the treatment or its resiilts. 



Let us observe, however, that in our day canker has become 

 comparatively a rare disease, especially in cities, which, doubtless, 

 is because of the cleanliness of the streets. In the begimiing of 

 this century, canker and grease — closely related diseases — were 

 frequent in Paris; then horses were obHged to travel through 

 deep gutters of mud, while to-day these affections are excejitional 

 occurrences (H. Bouley). The same thing has been observed by 

 Percival in England. When hygienic precautions were not as 

 weU understood as they are to-day, in establishments employ- 



