668 



OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



of the plantar cushion, and thus the escape of the pus facilitated. 

 If the horny frog has remained intact, a longitudinal incision must 

 also be made in order to allow the frog to discharge, and avoid 

 further burrowing or undermining of the hoof. It is bad practice 

 to attempt to pull the core out with a sharp instrument. It is 

 better to leave it rmdisturbed and wait for the natural process of 

 elimination, which may, however, be hastened by the application 

 of a poultice. The time requu-ed for the entire separation of the 

 necrosed spot varies, and as it approaches, the animal begins to 

 imj)rove in the matter of resting his foot. When it becomes en- 

 tirely detached, the cavity which it occupied in the plantar cushion 

 is treated as a simple wound, with turj)entine or tincture of aloes. 

 However, a dressing supported by the shoe with plates is always 

 advantageous, and must be frequently repeated. No great length 

 of time is usually required for the entire healing of the parts, and 

 the animal is soon returned to his work. 



In a few cases, nevertheless, the furuncle becomes compHcated 

 with necrosis of the plantar cushion, disease of the os pedis, or of 

 the lateral cartilages, the treatment of which must vary according 

 to the nature and severity of the lesions. In these instances 

 operations similar to those required in cases of deep punctiired 

 wounds of the foot or in cartilaginous quittor are indicated. 



Keeaphyllocele. 



This name was given by Yatel to a tumor which forms on the 

 internal surface of the wall of the horse's foot, at the expense of 

 the keraphyllous tissue, which becomes hypertrophied. These 

 tumors are sometimes irregularly rounded, at other elongated, 

 but usually rounded and again flattened from side to side. They 

 vary in size from that of a goose quill to that of the finger, and 

 while in some cases they occujDy the whole length of the wall from 

 the coronary band to the plantar border, in others they only begin 

 at one-third or one-half of the height of the wall. The difference 

 in size allows a division of keraphyllocele into complete and 

 hiGomiylete. At different points the columns are roughened by 

 frequent enlargements. Sometimes full and formed by a very- 

 compact and hard tissue, they are, however, sometimes of a fis- 

 tulous character and accompanied by a blackish discharge of an 

 offensive odor. The lamellae of the reticular tissue which are 

 nearest to them are generally wider and thicker than in the nor- 



