77 



tlie digits, usually caused by the animal standing in a filthy, wet 

 box, or yard, or on soft, wet, marshy pastures ; and although I have 

 seen hundreds of cases, I have never yet met with one that could be 

 said to arise from scrofulous or specific influence. There is acute 

 lameness present, and the foot is swollen round the top of the hoof, 

 and there is also a strong fceted smell, with ulcerated sores of the soft 

 tissues between the digits. The worst cases have been caused by 

 rough treatment and the application of strong caustics, and I must 

 here strongly condemn the barbarously cruel treatment, of pulling a 

 rough rope between the toes, and applying Butyr of Antimony. This 

 latter dressing burns and destroys the parts, bringing on what is 

 termed " Bastard Fotils.'' I have, on many occasions, seen the bones 

 laid bare with such brutal treatment. Simple soothing applications 

 are all that are necessary. The Treatment for Foul in the Foot is 

 very simple. The beast should be removed to a clean thoroughly dry 

 box ; the parts washed with cold water, containing phenyle, or some 

 disinfectant, and dressed with carbolic oil and tow ; and the foot 

 poulticed for a day or two with bran and cold water, to which a 

 tablespoonful of carbolic acid has been added. This in ordinary 

 cases is all that is required. But when the ulceration is more extensive, 

 and after the inflammation has been reduced with the poultice, the 

 sores must be dressed with caustic powder {see Appendix) and a pledget 

 of tow, smeared with the tar ointment {see pay. 794), should be inserted 

 and held in its place by a bandage put round the top of the foot and 

 between the digits, like the figure of 8, and this gives great support. 



205. Ulcerations and damage of a very serious character are also 

 caused by Foot and Mouth Disease. In many cases the bones are 

 entirely bare, through this disease, so that repairs to the damaged 

 parts are most difficult to accomplish. {See Eighth Lecture, on 

 " Circulation "). The Treatment for it is similar to that for " Foul in 

 the Foot " {par. 204). 



206. Laminitis. — Founder, or Ivjlammaiion of the Sensitive Tissues of 

 the Foot, although of frequent occurrence in the horse, is rarely 

 seen in the cow, yet I have had several cases, arising trom the after 



