284 FOUL IN THE FOOT. CURE. 



results in serious consequences. A hollow tube is 

 best, and if the object is passed on into the paunch, the 

 tube should remain a short time, to permit the gas to 

 escape. In case the animal is very badly swelled, the 

 dose of chloride of lime, or ammonia, should be given, 

 as for the hoove, after the obstruction is removed. 



Care should be taken, after the obstruction h 

 removed, to allow no solid food for some days. 



FOUL IN THE FOOT. Cows and other stock, when 

 fed in low, wet pastures, will often suffer from ulcers 

 or sores, generally appearing first between the claws. 

 This is commonly called foul in the foot, and is analo- 

 gous to foot-rot in sheep. It is often very painful, 

 causing severe lameness and loss of flesh, and dis- 

 charges a putrid matter, or pus. Sometimes it first 

 appears in the form of a swelling near the top of the 

 hoof, which breaks and discharges foul matter. 



The rough and common practice among farmers is to 

 fasten the foot in the same manner as the foot of an ox 

 is fastened in shoeing, and draw a rough rope back and 

 forth over the ulcerated parts, so as to produce a 

 clean, fresh wound, and then dress it with tar or other 

 similar substance. 



This is often an unnecessarily cruel operation. The 

 loose matter may easily be removed by a knife, and then 

 carefully wiped off with with a moist sponge. The ani- 

 mal should then be removed at once to a warm, dry 

 pasture, or kept in the barn. 



If the case has been neglected till the pasterns 

 become swollen and tender, the sore may be thoroughly 

 cleansed out, and dressed with an ointment of sul- 

 phate of iron one ounce, molasses four ounces, sim- 

 mered over a slow fire till well mixed. Apply on a 

 piece of cotton batting, and secure upon the parts. If 

 an) morbid growth or fungus appear, use equal parts 



