DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 383 



the more suspicious. A nail may be driven too near the quick 

 and yet not cause lameness for a week or two, until some slight 

 shifting in the position of the shoe causes it to press painfully. 



Treatment. — In slight cases the withdrawal of the nail may 

 be all that is necessary. In more severe it may be requisite to 

 punch the nail holes nearer to the toe, to drive the nails low, to 

 apply cold water or other soothing agent to the foot and to rest 

 for a day or two. If matter has formed the course of the offend- 

 ing nail must be followed with the drawing-knife, the pus evac- 

 uated, and the parts treated afterward as in suppurating corn. 

 If the bone has been reached and a dead scale exists on the 

 surface this must be cut down upon and removed. 



INCISED AND PUNCTURED WOUNDS OF THE SOLE. 



That part of the foot which is uncovered by the shoe is liable 

 to penetrating wounds from nails, glass, and other sharp bodies 

 on the ground, as well as nails, pitchforks, broken planks, etc., 

 against which they may kick. Such wounds are dangerous 

 according to their depth and position. If from a clean nail, 

 and no deeper than just to penetrate the quick, they are usually 

 of little consequence, and a little tar or gutta-percha may be 

 used to fill the wound, if any, until it is seen whether inflamma- 

 tion will ensue. If deeper a verticle wound will be most 

 serious in the middle third of the sole, because of the implica- 

 tion of the flexor tendon and small sesamoid bone, and the risk 

 o{ pedal sesaynoiditis or even an open coffin- jomt resulting. If 

 in the anterior third, the danger lies mainly in injury to the 

 lower surface of the coffin-bone, with death and removal of a 

 thin .scale which must be thrown off" before the wound can close. 

 If in the posterior third the elastic frog alone is wounded and 

 will heal veiy readily. 



Treatment will vary accordingly. The simple removal of the 

 foreign body may suffice. Cold applications may be needed, 

 matter may require an opening to escape, or the bone may have 



