434 CATTLE. 



It is generally believed that there is a constitutional tendency to 

 diseases of the foot in cattle, resembling the rot in sheep ; but this 

 has never been satisfactorily proved, and the simplest explanation of 

 the matter is, that inflammation was produced by some external 

 cause ; that it ran its usual course ; that suppuration followed, and 

 matter was formed ; that it burrowed in various parts of the foot, 

 and broke out at the coronet ; that sinuses remained ; that the ulcer 

 took on an unhealthy character ; fungus shooted up ; in short, there 

 was quitter or canker. This is a simple view of the case, and at 

 once points out a mode of treatment, intelligible and generally 

 successful. 



It is true that foul in the foot is most prevalent in low marshy 

 countries ; but the hoof is there softened, macerated by its continual 

 immersion in moisture, and rendered unable to resist the accidents to 

 which it is occasionally exposed. 



When a beast becomes suddenly lame, he should be taken up, 

 and, if necessary, secured. The lameness "svill generally be referable 

 to one claw. The heat, and tenderness, and redness, and enlarge- 

 ment round the coronet wiH prove this. The foot should be carefully 

 examined : is there an}'^ prick or wound about the sole ? if so, let 

 the horn be pared away there — let the matter which is pent up 

 within escape — let the horn be removed as far as it has separated 

 from the sensible parts beneath — let a little butyr of antimony be 

 applied over the denuded part — let a pledget of soft dry tow be 

 bound tightly upon the part, and let the animal be placed in a dry 

 yard or cow-house. 



If there be no evident wound, let the foot of the beast be tried 

 round with the pincers ; and if he decidedly flinches when pressed 

 on a particular part, let the foot be opened there — let the coronet 

 be closely examined : is there any soft reddish shot upon it? if so, 

 freely plunge the lancet into it. 



If the examiner be foiled in this attempt to discover the seat ol 

 mischief, let him envelop the foot in a poultice ; that wnll soften the 

 parts, and cause even the horn to be a little more yielding, and will 

 abate the inflammation ; if it should be pure inflammation without 

 previous mechanical injury, that will hasten the process of suppura- 

 tion, and the matter will more quickly, and with less destruction to 

 the neighboring parts, find its way to the coronet. As soon as it 

 does so, the soft projecting red or black spot should be opened, and 

 a probe should be introduced into the opening and the sinuses care- 

 fully ascertained, and every portion of detached horn removed from 

 above them, and the healthy horn around thinned and smoothed. 

 It will always in these cases be prudent to administer a dose of 

 Epsom salts. 



The character of the surface exposed should now be considered. 

 If, the matter having been all evacuated, the wound or wounds have 



