LAMENESS IN THE PORE LEG 183 



When the condition progresses favorably the wound may be 

 dressed every second day or twice weekly, and in the course of 

 from two to six weeks recovery should be complete. 



If the practitioner is somewhat proficient as a surgeon, and 

 has at his command facilities for doing surgery, the second 

 method is preferable in many cases. By using a local anesthetic 

 on the plantar nerves and confining the subject on an operating 

 table, restraint should be perfect. The solar surface of the foot 

 is first thoroughly cleansed, the puncture wound is enlarged in 

 the nonsensitive structures and the parts are then moistened 

 with phenol or other suitable antiseptics. By means of a small 

 probe the puncture is explored and, depending on the character 

 of the wound and the structures involved, surgical intervention 

 is varied to suit the case. If necessary, all of the insensitive 

 frog is removed, and in wounds aifecting the region of the heel 

 the tissues may be incised from the puncture outward dividing 

 all of the tissues outward and backward to the surface. A 

 suitable surgical dressing is then applied. 



If, on the other hand, the puncture extends into the navicular 

 bursa, the radical operation is perhaps indicated, though not 

 until one is sure that infection of the bursa and seiious conse- 

 quences are to follow if this operation is not performed. De- 

 tailed description of the technic of this operation belongs to the 

 realm of surgery and a good discussion of it is to he found in 

 William's work on vetprinary surgical and obstetrical opera- 

 tions. 



One may sunnnarize the discussion of treatment of nail punc- 

 ture by saying that emergency care as herein described is of first 

 consideration. In every ease an immunizing dose of anti-tetanic 

 serum should be given. Subsequently, the method emj-loyed 

 must suit the character of the wound, existing facilities for 

 handling the su])ject and the skill and ajititude of the prac- 

 titioner. 



