INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS 297 



left on each side of the portion removed, and of keeping the 

 exposed structures free from dirt and grit. 



Practical points to be remembered in fitting plates of this 

 description to the feet are : The plate must never quite 

 reach the shoe, or it will participate in the concussion of 

 progression, and so loosen the screws that hold it in place. 

 For the same reason, that portion of the sole adjoining the 

 piece of horn removed must have its bearing on the shoe 

 relieved. The screws holding the plate should be oiled to 

 prevent rusting, and should take an oblique direction in 

 order to obtain as great a hold as possible on the wall. 



When excision is deemed unwise or unnecessary, treat- 

 ment should be directed towards maintaining the cavity in 

 a state of asepsis. To this end it should be thoroughly 

 cleaned of its contents, and afterwards dressed with medicated 

 tow. The ordinary tar and grease stopping is as suitable as 

 any. This, together with the tow, is tightly plugged into 

 the opening and kept in position by a wide-webbed shoe. 

 Instead of the tar stopping and the tow, there may be used 

 with advantage the artificial hoof-horn of Defay (see p. 

 152). Before using this the cavity should again be thor- 

 oughly cleaned out, and should in addition be mopped out 

 with ether. The latter injunction is important, as unless 

 the grease is thus first removed, the composition will fail to 

 adhere to the horn. With the cavity thus cleaned and 

 prepared, the artificial horn, melted ready to hand, is poured 

 into it and allowed to set. 



In every case, no matter what else the treatment, the 

 bearing of the horn adjacent to the lesion should be removed 

 from the shoe. 



Whether practising the method of plugging the cavity or 

 that of excision of the wall external to it, attempts to quickly 

 obtain a new growth of horn from the coronet should be 

 made. To further that, frequent stimulant applications 

 should be used. Ointment of Biniodide of Mercury 1 in 8, 

 of Cantharides 1 in 8, or the ordinary Oil of Cantharides, 

 either will serve. 



