DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



by the feet being sore. If there is heat and tender- 

 ness in the hollow of the heel or a redness of the 

 sole, and the absence of any other disease of the 

 foot or leg, we may consider with almost a certain- 

 ty that it is a case of navicular or coffin joint lame- 

 ness. The result is contraction of the foot. 



Treatment: Take off the shoes, so that the frog 

 will rest on the ground, then poultice the feet with 

 bran, made up with cold water if it is a recent case, 

 but if it is of some months' standing hot water is 

 the best; the poultices to be put into bags made a 

 little larger than the foot; about two inches deep 

 of the bran mash should be put into the bag, then 

 put the foot in and fill in all around as high as the 

 fetlock, and tie it above the fetlock and around the 

 ankle to keep the bag well on the foot. Wet this 

 several times a dav and change it once daily. Con- 

 tinue this for two weeks, and see that it is properly 

 done; if not it will be of no service. Then blister 

 the coronet with cantharides two drams, lard one 

 ounce. Repeat in three weeks, and give the animal 

 a long rest. I have never seen any good result 

 from the use of frog setons, and it is a cruel opera- 

 tion. The operation of neurotomy (cutting the 

 nerve) has been tried and is sometimes useful 

 when the foot is in a good condition for such an 

 operation, but if the animal has a weak foot or if 

 the disease is far advanced it is worse than useless, 

 as the animal will soon pound it to pieces. 



Laminitis (Founder). — Inflammation of the foot, 

 called laminitis, or founder, is a very common dis- 

 ease among all classes of horses. The structures 



