372 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



Treatment. — Poulticing at first, to encourage the separation ; 

 afterwards digestives, to stimulate the granulations ; and finally 

 mild astringent dressings. Mr. Eobinson's cases have all oc- 

 curred in the winter, and he attributes them to cold and wet. 

 I have seen many cases at times when they could not be attri- 

 buted to wet or cold, and which seemed to be unmistakeably due 

 to a blood-poison ; they were also more malignant and unman- 

 ageable than those witnessed by Mr. Eobinson. 



I believe this disease is hitherto undescribed by any English 

 author ; but I know several veterinarians who have met with 

 cases of it as well as myself. 



I am inclined to think that it is due to a blood-poison 

 similar to that of glanders and farcy, as it is oftenest seen in 

 unhealthy situations, ill- ventilated stables, and in horses with 

 bad or gross constitutions. I was inclined, when I first saw 

 it, to attribute it to some injury to the parts, and to believe 

 that the unhealthy action was the consequence of such injury, 

 or to the introduction of some deleterious material into the 

 wound ; but further experience has convinced me that it often 

 originates from constitutional causes, and that it is an inflam- 

 mation of the coronary substances, due to the presence of some 

 morbid material in the blood. If the attack be slight, the 

 inflamed point limited, circumscribed, and surrounded by 

 healthy tissue, recovery may be expected ; but if there are 

 several points, which by ulceration tend to coalesce, as well as 

 extensive destruction of tissue, an unfavourable termination 

 may be looked for. Even if recovery from the more immediately 

 dangerous symptoms is obtained, such will be the destruction 

 of the horn-secreting structures that the animal will be worth- 

 less for the future ; therefore the treatment must be directed 

 to the prevention of the spreading of the disease from its 

 original point; and the best local remedy for this purpose is 

 the nitrate of silver, freely applied in its undiluted state. 

 After the free application of the caustic, the animal ought to be 

 made to stand with the lame foot in cold water, for an hour 

 at a time, repeatedly during the day; poultices are injurious, 

 as they encourage the tendency to sloughing and ulceration. 

 When the foot is removed from the cold water, the parts are to 

 be dressed with a solution of the tincture of terchloride of iron. 

 In all cases of this description, removal of the shoe and ex- 



