602 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



iDto the adjoining parts. The most usual source of this affliction 

 of the foot is wet, whereby the hoof is first softened, and then 

 irritated and inflamed by protracted exposure to the three potent 

 influences for mischief — dirt, wet, and cold. Again, in some 

 cases the disease may spring from a rupture or other affection of 

 the ligament which connects the two divisions of the hoof.. 

 Inflammation of the secreting glands and coronet may succeed 

 upon injuries to this ligament. Pus may be produced, and 

 burrow down among the bony tissue of the foot within the hoof. 



Treatment. — Great care and the strictest cleanliness are 

 indispensable. The patient should be kept up in a clean, well- 

 built shed, the floor of which should be quite level, only so far 

 sloping as to allow of drainage away from the animal, and nicely 

 bedded down with good dry straw. The space between the 

 claws should be examined and well cleaned. If the upper edges 

 of the hoof or other portions of it are diseased, or broken and 

 loose, so as to favour the collection and imprisonment of pus,, 

 they should be removed by means of a suitable sharp paring 

 knife. When the diseased parts have been carefully cut off, the 

 feet should be placed in linseed poultices, with which a suitable 

 mild antiseptic may be mixed. If it is preferred to do so, the 

 hoof may be nicely wrapped round with antiseptic tow or lint,, 

 and secured in position by means of a bandage passed between 

 the claws and tied round the leg above the foot. A good and 

 simple ointment for foul in the foot may be made of one part of 

 boric acid mixed with seven parts of lard. 



We pause here to reiterate the necessity of thoroughly draining 

 the land. If this measure were always well carried out, farmers 

 would save a great deal of money in many different ways. For 

 instance, the disease of which we are now treating would be much 

 rarer than it is. Sometimes sheep or oxen may be unavoidably 

 kept on damp ground. When this is the case, Mr. George 

 Armatage, M.R.C.V.S., recommends the use of the following 

 ointment once or twice a week : — Melt 1 lb. of Burgundy pitch, 

 with 1 lb. of mutton suet, over a slow fire, and then add 1 lb. of 

 Barbadoes tar, and mix thoroughly. 



LAMINITIS. 

 Laminitis is not often met with among cattle, nor is it of very 

 great importance when it does occur in an ox. The disease may 



