39 6 VETERINARY LECTURES 



676. Horn Overgrowths and Injuries. — The horns sometimes 

 turn and curve in so much that the overgrown points press tightly on 

 the forehead, giving the animal so much pain that it ceases to feed 

 and thrive. Such cases must be attended to, and if necessary, the 

 surplus horn removed with a saw. Again, the horns sometimes 

 stand out with very sharp ends, in which case the points have to be 

 cut off with the saw, or protected with wooden balls, to prevent 

 the goring and wounding of other animals. When the horns are 

 very large, it is found necessary to remove them by an operation 

 termed ' dishorning ' — an operation regarded by many as very 

 objectionable, and looked upon as cruel ; but it is not more cruel than 

 to leave them on, and thus enable the larger animals to attack and 

 wound their smaller and weaker companions. As the horn is non- 

 sensitive, and the horn core nearly so, as well as being hollow, there 

 is very little pain accompanying the operation. Occasionally a cow 

 may become fixed by the horn, and in endeavouring to liberate itself 

 the horn may be stripped off, without injuring the horn core ; when 

 this happens, the parts must be dressed with carbolic oil and tow 

 or cotton wool, and above this should be a layer of tar and tow, 

 all being secured with a light bandage, and fastened to the other 

 horn. When the horn and horn core are fractured, the rough 

 projections and broken fragments of bone must be removed and 

 sawn level, the bleeding stopped with a hot iron, and the parts 

 dressed as above. 



677. Abscesses are at times met with in the cavities of the horn, 

 arising from an injury done to the parts, and causing extreme 

 constitutional disturbance. The animal breathes quickly and pants, 

 the eyes are injected, perspiration rolls off the body, and the pulse is 

 full and bounding. The most noticeable symptom is that the 

 animal holds the head low and to one side, giving it an occasional 

 shake ; if pressure be put on the root of the horn, the animal 

 may bellow out, and fall over on to its side, as if in a fit, rolling 

 its eyes, and breathing in a heavy and spasmodic manner. Treat- 

 ment.— Bore into the base of the horn with a small trephine or a 

 J-inch gimlet, and after the pus has been liberated, roll cold 



