FOUL IN THE FOOT. 



a tolerably healthy appearance, a light application of the biityr of 

 antimony, and that repeated daily, will soon induce a secretion of 

 new horn ; but if there be a portion of the surface that looks black or 

 spongy, or the edges of which are separated from the parts around, 

 here was, probably, the original seat of injury — the life of that portion 

 has been destroyed and it must be removed — it must slough out. A 

 poultice of hnseed meal, with a fourth part of common turpentine, 

 must be put on, changed twice in the day, and continued until the 

 suppuration is complete. A light application of the butyr should then 

 follow, or, in favorable cases, a pledget soaked in Friar's balsam should 

 be placed on the wound, bound tightly down, and daily renewed ; 

 the removal of every portion of detached horn, dryness, firm but 

 equable pressure on the part, and moderate stimulus of the exposed 

 surface, are the principles which will carry the practitioner success- 

 fully through every case of foul in the foot. 



Nothing has been said of the fungous excrescence between the 

 claws, in order to remove which, as well as to stimulate the surface 

 beneath and dispose it to throw out healthy horn, the cart-rope or 

 the horse-hair line used to be introduced betw^een the claws, and 

 drawn backward and forward, inflicting sad and unnecessary torture 

 on the animal. This fungus will rarely make its appearance, if the 

 horn, which had lost its attachment to the living surface beneath, yet 

 still continued to press upon it, has been carefully removed. If any 

 fungus appear, it should be levelled by means of a sharp knife, and 

 the caustic applied. There can be no doubt that pure inflammation, 

 without wound or mechanical injury, does sometimes attack the feet 

 of cattle, especially of those that are in high condition. On one day 

 the beast is perfectly free from lameness, or illness of any kind ; on 

 the following day probably the foot is swelled, the claios stand apart 

 from each other, they are unusually hot, and the animal can scarcely 

 rest any portion of his weight on one foot ; he is continually shifting 

 his posture, or he lies down and cannot be induced to rise. If the 

 beast be neglected, the inflammation and swelling increase until an 

 ulcer appears at the division of the claws, and which cannot be healed 

 until a considerable core has sloughed out. 



A linseed-meal poultice should be applied to the part as soon as 

 this inflammation is observed, and it rnay be easily retained in its 

 situation by means of a cloth through which two holes have been cut 

 to admit the claws. This will either abate the inflammation or has- 

 ten the suppuration ; and as soon as the swelling begins to point, it 

 should be opened. The poultice must be continued until this slough- 

 ing process has taken place, or the ulcer begins to have a healthy 

 surface, a little common turpentine having been added to it. Proud 

 flesh must be subdued, by the caustic ; equal parts of verdigris and 

 sugar of lead will constitute the best application for this purpose. 

 Foul and fetid discharge must be corrected by the chloride of lime ; 



