3^48 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



develop into an active inflammation of all the sensitive structures of 

 the foot — laminitis, or into a local bruise commonly called a " corn." 



Treatment. — Rest, poulticing the feet with moistened clay, fol- 

 lowed by astringent washes — strong white-oak bark or alum water. 



If the pain and heat last several days, it is probable that pus has 

 formed beneath the wall of the hoof. In this case it is necessary to 

 cut through the wall, usually at the most prominent part of the sole, 

 to allow the accumulation to drain out. The animal should then be 

 caused to stand for several hours daily in a tub containing creolin 

 solution (3 per cent). AVhen not in the creolin solution the foot 

 should be dressed with pine tar and cotton and bandaged with bag- 

 ging. 



LOSS OF HOOF. 



Cattle sometimes become fastened between planks or otherwise and 

 pull off the wall of one or both claws in the effort to extricate them- 

 selves. The claws of one or more feet may be shed as the result of 

 acute laminitis. 



Treatment. — Wash the bleeding surface with an antiseptic and then 

 with an astringent, as a weak solution of alum, then apply a thick 

 coating of pine tar; cover this with a layer of oakum or absorbent 

 cotton ; apply another coat of tar over this, and then bandage closely 

 and firmly. This may remain without disturbance until the new 

 growing wall becomes; sufficiently strong to sustain the pressure and 

 weight of the animal. If, however, at any time it becomes manifest 

 by oozing or bad smell that pus is forming under this dressing, the 

 bandage should be removed and the suppurating surface freshly 

 cleaned and dressed. This may have to be repeated every few days, 

 and should be continued so long as there is any pus foraiation. If 

 the loss of hoof is due to suppurative laminitis, the parts denuded of 

 the horny covering must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected with 

 carbolic acid, creolin, lysol, or other antiseptic. Then apply a mod- 

 erately thick layer of absorbent cotton, and apply the tar and bandage 

 over this. After this the antiseptic solution may be poured in at the 

 top of the dressing daily. It will thus soak in and saturate the dress- 

 ing and inflamed tissue. It may become necessary to remove the 

 whole of the dressing at daily or longer intervals to give the parts a 

 fresh cleaning, and then to reapply it. 



FOUL IN FOOT (fOOT ROt) . 



A variety of causes may produce inflammation of the foot between 

 the claws or toes. It may be due to overgrowth of the claws and 

 inward pressure, as in ingrowing nail of man ; or it may be caused by 

 the iiTitation of stable filth, to impaction and hardening of soil be- 

 tween the claws, or to other foreign substances becoming wedged in 



