690 



OPEEATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



Fig. 521.— Apparatus of Mathew for Cold Water Application. 



tion of salt, sulphate of iron, or alum ; clay poultices mixed with 

 vinegar have also been used. As the heat of the foot has a ten- 

 dency to rise, the temperature of the liquid or of the topic used 

 must be often changed in order to keep up its antiphlogistic ef- 

 fect. Baths of sulphate of iron are especially indicated in cases 

 of traumatism. 



Irritating frictions, used as derivatives, are also recommended, 

 but their efficacy in this case is at least problematical. Irritation, 

 when the congestion is somewhat passive, is not easy to produce. 

 However, frictions of the hock with oil of turpentine, by the pain 

 they produce stimulating the animal to move and not allowing 

 him to remain in a state of almost complete immobility, may be 

 advantageous. Blisters around the coronet are useful toward the 

 third or fourth day, when plastic exudation or hypersecretion of 

 the hoof are to be feared. 



Frog seton is recommended by English practitioners ; Gabriel 

 says it is a sure means to prevent the separation of the nail. This 

 seems to us unwarranted. Internally, the administration of ni- 

 tre, cream of tartar, ammoniacal salts, sulphate of soda, are given ; 

 drugs which are indicated by the febril state ; alkaline remedies, 

 and principally of nitrate of potash in large doses, are administered 

 to render the blood more fluid and increase the venous circulation. 

 Aloes, recommended in England by Hertwig, are contra-indicated, 

 as increasing the disease and facilitating the dropping of the foot. 



