CANKER. 557 



a level with the surrounding surface ; and, next, to re- 

 store the healthy secretions. To lessen the disposition to 

 produce an inordinate quantity of the wall at the ex- 

 pense of a sufficient development of the sole, the plantar 

 arteries were taken up by Mr. Coleman, but without 

 benefit. When, however, he divided the immediate 

 branches furnishing the coronary ring which cut off the 

 secreting supplies from the wall of the foot, the horn of 

 the sole began to form in larger quantities ; and the 

 experiment has been repeated by others with the same re- 

 sult. The division of the plantar nerves has been employed 

 for the same purpose, but with equivocal benefit ; yet it has 

 acted beneficially in another way, by removing much pain, 

 and enabling the animal to bear on the foot, which, by the 

 pressure thus obtained, is improved. When neurotomy is 

 performed in canker, it is principally confined to those cases 

 where the disease has its seat in the sole, bars, and frog : 

 it would never be prudent to do more than simply divide 

 the nerve, because the object here is to destroy sensation 

 temporarily only. When the fungus extends itself con- 

 siderably beyond the edges of the horn, it is prudent at once 

 to remove it to a level with the horny covering by the 

 knife. This will occasion a considerable h?emorrhage, which 

 may be checked by touching it lightly with muriate of 

 antimony ; after this, the edges of the horny sole that 

 surround the opening whence the fungus arises may be 

 better got at. Proceed carefully and accurately to examine 

 what extent of sensitive sole is separated from the horn, or, 

 how much is ^ underrun.' Exactly to this extent must the 

 sole of the hoof be removed with a drawing-knife ; for it 

 must never be lost sight of, that the horn once separated 

 never again reunites ; but becomes a foreign body, and 

 as such, occasions the same effects that occur from the 

 presence of other substances in all parts. Not only must 

 this be done in the first instance, but at every future 

 dressing the same attention should be paid to examine if 

 any further separation has occurred, that this last portion 

 may also be removed. 



Having thus fulfilled the first indication, by reducing the 

 diseased fungus, and having lessened the irritation that 

 occasioned it, the next process is to promote a more healthy 



