122 VETERINARY LECTURES 



205. Laminitis. — Founder, or inflammation 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 from the 

 after-effects of difficult parturition ; also from metastatic inflamma- 

 tion — i.e., inflammation shifting from one part to another, as from the 

 mammary gland to the feet. Unlike the horse, the patient is inclined 

 to lie continually, while there is great difficulty in getting it on to its 

 feet, when great pain is evinced, with but slight constitutional disturb- 

 ance. Treatment. — Cold water poultices must be applied to the feet, 

 and the antiseptic fever medicine (par. 1067, No. II.) given night and 

 morning. 



206. Sore Feet. — This is occasionally seen where cows have 

 been driven long distances on a hard road — not so common nowadays 

 as formerly. Treatment. — Wash the feet with some antiseptic wash 

 {par. 1060, No. I.), cover the damaged part with a small portion 

 of tar, and then turn the animal into a clean loose-box or good 

 pasture. If great lameness is present, with heat in the foot, poultice 

 for a day or two with cold water and bran. 



207. Interdigital Growths (fibromata) are sometimes met with, 

 and are mostly seen in front, at the top, and between the digits. 

 When they get large they cause the claws to spread apart, and pro- 

 duce lameness. Treatment. — The animal must be cast, and the 

 tumour cut out with a sharp knife, and the part dressed with anti- 

 septic wool and tar ointment (par. 193), kept in place with figure 

 of 8 bandage (par. 203). 



208. Overgrown Hoofs. — Animals kept on soft litter, bulls in 

 particular, are subject to this. The walls of the hoof grow, turn on 

 to, and overlap the sole, while the toes get to great length. This 

 overgrowth rarely or never causes lameness, yet interferes with the 

 walking of the animal. All that is required is to shorten the toes 

 with the hoof-Shears (Plate LIV ., No. 2), then, with a rope over a 

 beam, pull up the foot, and with a shoeing-knife dress off the over- 

 lapped wall from the sole. 



