564 ON THE FEET* 



" and at length occafion induration, the efFe6l 

 " of the concretion of the fluids." — He orders 

 a foundered and feverifli foot to be foaked an 

 hour in a cold bath, in which have been in- 

 fufed the moft powerful repellents and aftrin- 

 gents. This practice I well know has been 

 derived from ancient authority, and is pre- 

 fcribed by Petrus Crefcentius and others, but 

 that, and even the confideration that fuch 

 method has ever fince prevailed in the conti- 

 nental fchools, is no abfolute proof of its rec- 

 titude ; and for my own part, I muft confefs I 

 fhould as foon think of applying a fnow-ball 

 by way of poultice to a feverifli head. I muft 

 entreat the reader not to mifunderfl:and me ; I 

 do not pretend to dogmatize upon this point, 

 I am only fubmitting my opinion to the cor- 

 reftion of profeflional men. I have repeatedly 

 feen very ill effe6ls from even moderate cool- 

 lers and repellents, applied to hot and furbated 

 feet. See p. 498, for the ufe of warmth, and re- 

 laxents to the opthalmic eye, an analogous cafe 

 with refpeft to inflammation and a turgefcency 

 of the vefiels. 



When from any accident the whole hoof 

 fliall become loofe, fo as to indicate an entire 

 parting from the bone, prepare a pliable leathern 

 boot with a ftrong fole, fitted to the foot, to be 

 laced around the paftern. The boot to be 

 bolfl;ered and fl:opped with foft flax or tow, 



that 



