42 DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



Symptoms. The first important symptom consists in intense local 

 pain, rapidly followed by marked lameness. The affected region soon 

 becomes swollen ; the coronary band appears congested ; the skin of the 

 interdigital space projects both in front and behind ; the claws are 

 separated, and all the lower portion of the limb appears congested 

 and (Edematous. The engorgement usually extends as high as the 

 fetlock, and the parts are hard and extremely sensitive. The patient 

 is feverish, loses appetite, and commences to waste. After five to ten 

 days sloughing occurs at some point — if the ligament is affected, in the 

 interdigital space ; if the tendons, or the fibro-fatty cushions, the slough 

 aj^pears in the flexure of the pastern. The dead tissue may separate and fall 

 away, or remain in position macerated in pus. Separation is generally slow, 

 requiring from twelve to fifteen days, and, unless precautions are taken, 

 complications occur. If only the interdigital ligament or fibro-fatty 

 cushion be necrotic, recovery may be hoped for ; but, on the other hand, 

 if the tendons, tendon sheaths, ligaments, or bones are affected, complica- 

 tions like suppurating synovitis, suppurating ostitis, arthritis, etc., super- 

 vene, with fatal results. Death may occur from purulent infection, unless 

 the animal is slaughtered early. 



The diagnosis is easy. The intensity of the lameness, separation of 

 the claws, sw^elling of the pastern region, sensitiveness of the swollen 

 jmrts, and absence of lesions in the ungual region sufficiently indicate 

 the nature of the condition. 



The prognosis is grave, for complications may result, in spite of 

 proper treatment. 



Treatment. Treatment consists, first of all, in thoroughly cleansing 

 the affected limb and placing the animal on a very clean bed. The parts 

 are next subjected to antiseptic baths containing carbolic acid, creolin, 

 sulphate of zinc, or sulphate of copper. It is often more convenient, and 

 quite as efficacious, to apply antiseptic poultices to the foot and pastern, 

 and to allow them to remain for some days, being moistened several 

 times daily with one of the solutions indicated. The effects are: rapid 

 diminution of the pain, delimitation of the necrotic tissues is hastened, 

 and the abscess is more readily oj^ened. 



Many practitioners recommend early intervention in the form of 

 deep scarification in the interdigital space or pastern region. The 

 local bleeding, and the drainage which takes place through the wounds 

 so made, is said to hasten recovery or to prevent complications. 



When the abscess has opened, and the dead tissue separated, the 

 abscess cavity or wound should be regularly washed out with a disin- 

 fecting solution, to prevent complications, in case fragments of necrotic 

 tissue have been retained. If, however, complications have occurred, no 

 hesitation should be felt in freely incising the parts, and, if necessary, in 



