DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 429 



to 50° F., unless the animal is lying- clown, when swabs are to be used 

 and wet every half hour with the cold water. The water keeps the 

 horn soft and moist and acts directly upon the inflamed tissues by 

 reducing the temperature. Cold maintains the vitality and disease- 

 resisting qualities of the soft tissues, tones up the coats of the blood 

 vessels, diminishes the supply of blood, and limits the exudation. 

 Furthermore, cold has an anesthetic effect upon the diseased tissues 

 and relieves the pain. 



Aconite may be given in conjunction with the niter where the heart 

 is greatly excited and beats strongly. Ten-drop doses, repeated every 

 two hours for twenty-four hours, are sufficient. ' The use of cathartics 

 is dangerous for they may excite superpurgation. Usuall}^ the niter 

 will relieve the constipation, yet if it should prove obstinate, laxatives 

 may be carefully given. Bleeding, both general and local, should be 

 guarded against. The shoes must be earl}" removed and the soles left 

 unpared. 



Paring of the soles presents two objections: First, while it ma}'- 

 temporarih' relieve the pain by relieving pressure, it favors greater 

 exudation, which may more than counterbalance the good effects. 

 Secondly, it makes the feet tender and subject to bruises when the 

 animal again goes to work. The shoes should be replaced when con- 

 valescence sets in and the animal is read}" to take exercise. Exercise 

 should never be enforced until the inflammation has subsided; for 

 although it temporaril}^ relieves the pain and soreness, it maintains the 

 irritation, increases the exudation, and postpones recovery. 



If at the end of the fifth or sixth day prominent symptoms of 

 recovery are not apparent, apply a stiff blister of cantharides around 

 the coronet and omit the niter for about forty-eight hours. When the 

 blister is well set, the feet may again receive wet sv/abs. If one 

 blister does not remove the soreness it may be repeated, or the actual 

 cautery applied. The same treatment should be adopted v.here side- 

 bones form or inflammation of the coronet bone follows. "When the 

 sole breaks through, exposing the soft tissues, the feet must be care- 

 fully shod with thin heels and thick toes where there is a tendency 

 to walk on the heels, and the sole must be well protected v/ith appro- 

 priate dressings and pressure over the exposed parts. When there is 

 turning up of the toe, blistering of the coronet, myront only, some- 

 tiraes stimulates the growth of horn, but as a rule judicious shoeing is 

 the only treatment that will enable the animal to do light, slow work. 



Where suppuration of the laminae is profuse, it is better to destroy 

 your patient at once and relieve his suffering; but if the suppuration 

 is limited to a small extent of tissue, especially of the sole, treatment, 

 as in acute cases, may induce recovery and should always be tried. If 

 from bed sores or other causes septicemia or pyemia is feared, the 

 bisulphite of soda, in half -ounce doses, m.ay be given in conjunction 

 with tonics and such other treatment as is indicated in these diseases. 



