238 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



When it so happens, either from extensive bruising or 

 from the action of excessive cold, that we have or suspect 

 the condition of sloughing, then the first indication is to 

 aid the live tissues to throw off the necrosed portion. In 

 spite of what is sometimes urged to the contrary, a hot 

 poultice is, perhaps, the best means of bringing this about. 

 Directly the necrosed piece is shed, a wound remains which, 

 so far as treatment is concerned, may be regarded exactly 

 as that left by the formation of pus. Hot water applica- 

 tions, some three or four times daily, will serve both to 

 cleanse the wound and also to maintain vitality in the 

 tissues immediately surrounding it. After each washing, 

 the use of a strong antiseptic solution to the wound is again 

 beneficial. 



In the case of an actual wound, whether, as in over- 

 reach, affecting the coronet alone or involving destruction 

 of part of the wall, or, as in the case of toe-tread, pene- 

 trating the pedal articulation, the treatment to be followed 

 is simple enough, in theory, if not always easy to carry out. 

 It consists solely in maintaining a rigid asepsis of the parts 

 until healing is well advanced or complete. The whole foot, 

 including the coronet, should first be thoroughly washed in 

 warm water. At the same time there should be used some 

 agent that will tend to remove the natural grease of the 

 parts. In this manner cleansing will be rendered more 

 thorough, and penetration of the antiseptic solution to be 

 afterwards applied made the more certain. The most ready 

 way of effecting this is to use the ordinary stable ' water '- 

 brush, and plenty of a freely-lathering soap. 



This done, the foot should be rinsed in cold water, and 

 afterwards constantly soaked in a cold antiseptic bath. 

 Where it is inconvenient or impossible to have the constant 

 bathing carried out, a dry antiseptic dressing may be tried 

 in its stead. In this case the foot should first be thoroughly 

 washed and dressed as before. Afterwards an antiseptic 

 powder in the shape of a mixture of iodoform 1 part, 

 boracic acid 10 parts, should be freely dusted on the wound, 

 a pledget of carbolized tow or cotton-wool placed over it, 



