334 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



dangerous practices, in the administration of destructive medi- 

 cines ; and I hope your efforts will be crowned with success." 



TREADS AND OVERREACHES. 



A tread, or calk, is an injury inflicted "on one foot by the 

 "calkin" — or, as often happens, the edge of the shoe — on 

 another foot, producing a contused wound, which is often trouble- 

 some to heal. This sort of injury differs from any incised 

 wound, inasmuch as it is a sort of bruise by which the surround- 

 ing parts are lacerated and violently torn from their horny at- 

 tachments, and the wound, although simple in appearance, is of 

 such a complicated nature that it often requires several weeks to 

 restore the parts to a healthy state. 



The treatment consists in allaying irritation, removing the 

 dead parts, and promoting granulation. We first apply a poul- 

 tice of carrots ; then, with a pair of scissors, remove any partly- 

 separated portions of skin or hoof. The wound is then dressed 

 with Turlington's balsam. We generally, however, first sprinkle 

 the chasm with a portion of finely -pulverized myrrh : this sub 

 stance forms a coating over the newly-formed granulations, and 

 protects them from injury. 



In the winter season, a calk, unless attended to early, often 

 becomes a serious affair. During the past two years, a foot dis- 

 ease of a very malignant character has prevailed around Boston. 

 It sometimes appears without any apparent cause, except slight 

 febrile symptoms ; at others, a calk seems to be the exciting 

 cause ; the disease speedily extends above the coronet and with- 

 in the hoof. It is a species of inflammatory gangrene, and is 

 generally attended with sympathetic and occasionally typhoid 

 fevers. The best local remedy is, a mixture of pulverized char- 

 coal and fir balsam ; the constitutional treatment according to the 

 nature of the case. 



Whenever a horse is calked, the chasm should be cleansed 

 and filled up with fir balsam. 



