THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 355 



inferior to a stuffing of wet oakum, which can be removed at 

 pleasure. In order to keep it in contact with the sole, we have 

 only to insinuate two strips of wood between the sole and shoe ; 

 one running lengthwise and the other crosswise of the foot. It 

 affords considerable pressure to the foot, is cooling and cleanly, 

 and is far superior to the above articles. 



CANKER OF THE FOOT. 



This is one of the most intractable diseases with which the 

 veterinary surgeon has to contend. It is a disease somewhat 

 analogous to cancer in the human subject. A true cancer, how- 

 ever, is supposed to have its origin in remote parts ; hence the 

 great difficulty in curing it. Dr. Carpenter teaches that " can- 

 cerous growths possess a remarkable analogy with the parasitic 

 fungi, which develop themselves in the interior of vegetable and 

 even animal structures ; and the supposition long ago entertained, 

 that cancer might be regarded as an independent growth of cor- 

 responding nature, does not now appear so extravagant as it was 

 at one time considered. There can be little doubt that a can- 

 cerous tumor of any size may be developed from a single cell ; 

 and it is probable that the origin of such growths in parts distant 

 from their primary centre is to be traced to the conveyance of 

 cancer cells, or of their germs by the circulating current ; so that 

 it seems very difficult to draw a line wdiich shall separate such in- 

 dependent growths on the one hand from the ordinary tissues of 

 the body, and on the other from structures really parasitic. It i? 

 interesting to remark, that blood vessels cannot be traced in these 

 productions at an early period of their formation, but that they 

 make their appearance, as in the normal development of the tis- 

 sues, at a later date." We consider canker in the horse to be ac 

 abnormal development of the ordinary tissues of the foot ; for were 

 it otherwise, we should never be able to cure it. If, however, it 

 appear in other parts of the body, which is a rare occurrence, 

 and assume a malignant aspect, it may be defined as true cancer. 

 A common antecedent of canker is thrush ; its seat is the hind 

 feet, occurring in horses of coarse breed, with ill-shaped hoofs., 

 and diseased frogs, that always emit a fetid odor. In such a^walsi 



