CANKEB.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[pALSE QUABTEE. 



or bad corns may now and then occasion it. 

 It seldom occurs in the fore feet, clearly show- 

 ing that dung and urine are among the gene- 

 causes. 



Canker is a formation of fungus, or proud 

 flesh, produced by an unhealthy secretion, and 

 has the appearance of a cauliflower. In treat- 

 ing for it, the first thing to be done is to 

 reduce this to a level with the parts that 

 appear healthy. This will be efiected with a 

 sharp scalpel; and although considerable 

 bleeding will take place, it need give no alarm. 

 Have a bottle of butter of antimony ready 

 (see Medicines), and, with a feather, touch 

 every part of proud flesh, and between the 

 parts. Next proceed carefully, with a probe, 

 to examine what extent of the sensitive is 

 separated from the horny sole ; and exactly to 

 the extent of separation must the sole be 

 nicely pared away, with a very fine and sharp 

 drawing-knife ; for the horny sole, once sepa- 

 rated, never re-unites, but becomes a foreign 

 body, and, as such, injurious. Every portion 

 of separated horn should be carefully removed ; 

 and this must be attended to at every future 

 dressing. Again examine, with the probe, if 

 the disease has proceeded in any other direc- 

 tion. If so, it must be treated as above, 

 by a careful removal of all detached parts ; 

 let these be cut away, neatly and evenly, and 

 no rough edges suffered to remain. 



By using the above means the fungus may 

 be removed ; but so long as any of this fungus 

 continues sprouting or growing, so long the 

 cankered action is going on. Before pro- 

 ceeding further, that must be completely done 

 away with ; for while it is there, no secretion 

 of firm horn will take place. If a secretion of 

 thin horn, which will sometimes occur over 

 many portions of the surface, is perceived, it 

 must be carefully removed at each dressing, 

 until the application of caustic stimulants and 

 pressure produce a healthy surface, and a 

 proper quantity of pus only, which will finally 

 end in good horn. After the whole of the 

 sole has been brought to secrete good matter, 

 sprinkle it with the following : — 



Sul. Zinc, finely powdered , , . i oz. 

 Verdigris Ido. 



Or, 



Blue Vitriol ........ 1 oz. 



Alum 1 do. 



Sprinkle either of these all over the sole, so as 

 lightly to cover it ; then lay a pledget of the 

 finest and cleanest tow on the whole ; fill the 

 cavity with other tow thickly over the bottom 

 of the foot, fastened in with strips of wood, as 

 before directed, crossing each other. This 

 will keep up a firm and equal pressure. After 

 this, take a piece of coarse cloth or sacking, 

 and wrap the whole well up in it. This will 

 keep the foot dry, as nothing tends to in- 

 crease the growth of proud flesh so much as 

 moisture. 



There is a great fault in not dressing cank- 

 ered feet sufficiently often. They ought, at 

 least once a day, to be dressed ; and if the case 

 is bad, they ought to be examined morning and 

 evening. Trouble, in this disease, must not be 

 considered ; for if the foot becomes neglected, 

 the parts are much longer in healing, and> 

 when healed, are not nearly so firm as if well 

 attended to. Horses affected with this disease 

 should never be turned out. In order to 

 avoid moisture, the mild caustic mode of treat- 

 ment, with the pledget of tow nicely fitted 

 into the foot, will be found to equal any 

 dressing, when applied with care. Alterative 

 medicines should be given every second day. 

 (See Medicines). 



FALSE QUARTER. 

 JFahe quarter generally arises from one or 

 the other of the preceding diseases ; in both of 

 which, from the injury done to the coronary 

 vascular ligament, at one particular part, it can 

 never afterwards secrete horn in a perfect line ; 

 but the interruption which first originated be- 

 tween the old and the new horn, continues to 

 be propagated. Consequently, it is called false 

 quarter ; and it, of course, very much weakens 

 the foot. Sandcrack is sometimes produced hy 

 it. The only remedy is, to continually blis- 

 ter the coronet at the quarter; and to shoe 

 with a bar-shoe, well laid off" at the seat of 

 disease. The hoof may be dressed with tar, 

 or the foot-ointment (see Medicines), and 

 kept as free from dirt as cossible. 



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