THEIR PATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. 47 



healthy tissues, carrying disease with it, and forming deep fistulous sore3 

 most difficult to reach. Tho danger of this is so great that it is good 

 policy to consult a practical man before the evil goes too far. Cases have 

 not unfrequently occurred where, from neglect of proper treatment, the 

 ulcers have extended downwards, and the matter appeared at the point of 

 tho shoulder and elbow, the bones becoming carious. 



"When the tumour is ripe it should be very freely opened with a knife, 

 and tho matter well pressed out, the discharge beiEg encouraged by 

 liberal fomentations and poultices, and the wound stimulated by an appli- 

 cation of chloride of zinc. 



Lotiun for Stimulating Wounds.— Chloride of zinc, one and a half 

 drr.chms to a pint of water. 



A fistula fairly established can only be properly treated by a qualified 

 veterinary surgeon, and owners should not permit the cruel experiments 

 practised by ignorant pretenders. 



Fits.— See Megrims. 



Flatulent Colic —See Colic. 



Foot, Prick of the.— This occasionally, but rarely, occurs by tho 

 horse picking up a nail in travelling. As a rule it results from careless- 

 ness or accident in shoeing, for the most careful shoeing smith may have 

 this mischance. It is very important to the horse and his owner that 

 when such a misfortune does occur the smith should have the candour 

 and moral courage to frankly name the matter, which unfortunately many 

 have not, but endeavour to hide the truth, which only increases the evil, as 

 by prompt dealing with, the worst results of the accident may be avoided. 

 Some smiths are very careless, driving the nails home in a rough manner, 

 without due caution, the result being that the point is driven into the 

 quick, that is, into the fleshy substance of the sensitive lamina3, or into 

 the soft horn lining the interior of the harder hoof. In the first instance 

 tho effect is more immediate ; tho horse will flinch ; frequently there will 

 be a little blood drawn, and lameness will be immediate, although it may 

 be slight and of no duration. When the nail i3 driren into the soft horn 

 between the hard hoof and the sensitive fleshy substance, it will, by the 

 action of the horse in walking, get bent and press on the sensitive parts, 

 causing local inflammation, which, if not immediately attended to, will go 

 on to suppuration or discharge of matter. 



When lameness arises, and prick of the foot is suspected, the shoe should 

 at oiico be removed ; look at the nails as they are drawn, and if one of 

 them is moist, it reveals tho injured spot ; if it smells offensively matter 

 has formed, and must be got rid of. If the spot cannot be detected in this 

 way, feel round the foot with a pair of pincers as described in searching for 

 a corn. "When it is clear the horse has been pricked the foot should bo 

 placed in a bucket of warm water or a large poultice — of course, first 

 having removed the shoe— the foot must be pared down, and a free opening 

 made to allow of the discharge of matter. When it i3 slight, and the horse 

 can bear the shoo and be gently worked, a piece of lint saturated with a 



