336 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Treatment. — Rest, poulticing the feet with moistened chiy, fol- 

 lowed by astringent washes — strong white-oak bark or ahini water. 



If the pain and heat last several days, it is probable that pus has 

 formed beneath the wall of the hoof. In this case it is necessary 

 to cut through the wall, usually at the most prominent part of the 

 sole, to allow the accumulation to drain out. The animal should 

 then stand for several hours daily in a tub containing a 3 per cent 

 solution of some good milky coal-tar disinfectant. When not in the 

 disinfecting solution the foot should be dressed with pine tar and 

 cotton and bandaged with bagging. 



LOSS OF HOOF. 



Cattle sometimes become fastened between planks or otherwise 

 and pull off the wall of one or both claws in the effort to extricate 

 themselves. The claws of one or more feet may be shed as the result 

 of acute laminitis. 



Treatment. — "Wash the bleeding surface with an antiseptic and 

 then with an astringent, such as a weak solution of alum, then apply a 

 thick coating of pine tar; cover this with a layer of oakum or ab- 

 sorbent cotton ; apply another coat of tar over this, and then bandage 

 closely and firmly. This may remain without disturbance until the 

 new growing Avail becomes sufficiently strong to sustain the pressure 

 and weight of the animal. If, howcA'er, at any time oozing or bad 

 smell indicates that pus is forming imder this dressing, the bandage 

 should be removed and the suppurating surface freshly cleaned and 

 dressed. This may have to be repeated every few days and should 

 be continued so long as there is any pus formation. If the loss 

 of hoof is owing to suppurative laminitis, the parts denuded of the 

 horny covering must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected Avitlr 

 carbolic acid, lysol, or other antiseptic. Then apply a moderately 

 thick layer of absorbent cotton and over this apply the tar and 

 bandage. After this the antiseptic solution may be poured in daily 

 at the top of the dressing. It will thus soak in and saturate the 

 dressing and inflamed tissue. It may become necessary to remove 

 all the dressing at daily or longer intervals to give the parts a fresh 

 cleaning, and then to reapply it. 



FOUL IN FOOT (FOOT ROT). 



A variety of causes may produce inflammation of the foot between 

 the claws_or Jioes. It may be on account of overgrowth of the claws 

 and inward pressure, as in ingrowing nail of man, or it may be 

 caused by the irritation of stable filth by unpaction and hardening of 

 soil between the claws, or by other foreign substances becoming 

 wedged in, causing inflammation and softening or ulceration of the 

 skin in the interdigital space. Under some conditions several cattle 



