OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT 89 



Where the boot is kept clean, however, it will save a great 

 deal of time and trouble to the attendant. 



While on the subject of poulticing, it is well to remark 

 that in many cases it may be more advantageous to supply 

 the necessary warmth and moisture to the foot by keeping 

 it immersed in a narrow tub of water maintained at the 

 required temperature. By this means the warmth is car- 

 ried further up the limb (sometimes an important point), 

 and the water can more conveniently be medicated with 

 whatever is required than can the poultice. In fact, it is 

 the author's general practice, where the attendants can be 

 induced to take the necessary pains, to always advise this 

 latter method. 



Fig. 54. — Swab for applying Moisture to the Foot. 



Where a dressing is relied upon by some practitioners 

 on account of the warmth it gives, others, even in identical 

 cases, will depend upon the effects of cold. This may be 

 applied by means of what are called ' swabs.' In their 

 simplest form swabs may consist only of hay-bands or 

 several layers of thick bandage bound round the foot and 

 coronet, and kept cool by having water constantly poured 

 upon them. In many cases the form of swab depicted in 

 Fig. 54 will be found more convenient. 



When only one foot is required to be dressed, and a 

 water-supply is available, by far the preferable method is 

 to attach one end of a length of rubber tubing to the water- 

 tap, and fasten the other just above the coronet, allowing 

 the water to trickle slowly over the foot. In cases 

 where a forced water-supply is unobtainable, and the case 



