431 



thereby increasing their vitality and disease-resisting <|nalities, and 

 at the same time hy toning np the coats of the blood vessels dimin- 

 ishes the snpph' of blood and limits the exndation. Fui'thermore, 

 cold has also an anesthetic effect upon the diseased tissues and relieves 

 the i^ain. 



Aconite may be given in conjunction with niter where the lieart is 

 greatly excited and beating strong!}'. Ten-drop doses repeated every 

 two hours for twenty-four hours is sufficient. The practice of giving 

 cathartics is dangerous, for it may excite suj^erpurgation. Usually 

 the niter has sufficient effect upon the constipation to relieve it, yet if 

 it should prove obstinate laxatives may be carefully given. Bleed- 

 ing, both general and local, should be guarded against. Tlie shoes 

 should alwaj's be earh^ rem.oved and the soles left unpared. 



Paring of the soles presents two objections. First, while it may 

 temporarily relieve the pain hy relieving pressure, it at the same time 

 allows of greater exudation, which may more than counterbalance the 

 good effects. Secondly, it makes the feet tender and subject to bruises 

 when the animal again goes to work. The shoes should be replaced 

 when convalescence sets in and the animal is ready to take exercise. 

 Exercise shoidd never l)e enforced until the inflammation has subsided, 

 for although.it temporarih' relieves the pain and soreness, it serves to 

 maintain continued irritation, increases tlie exudation, and prolongs 

 the recovery. 



If at the end of tlie fifth or sixth day prominent sj'mptoms of recov- 

 ery are not apparent ajjply a stiff blister of cantharides around the 

 coronet and omit the niter for about forty-eight hours. As soon as 

 the blister has drawn well the feet may again receive wet swabs. 

 If one blister does not suffice to remove the soreness, as is the case 

 sometimes, especially wliere periostitis is present, it maybe repeated, 

 or the actual cautery ai^plied. The same treatment should be adopted 

 where side bones form or inflammation of the coronet bone ensues. 

 When the sole breaks through and exposes the coffin bone and soft 

 tissues, the feet must be carefully shod with thin heels and thick toes 

 where there is any tendency to walking on the heels, and the sole well 

 protected witli appropriate dressing and iDressure over the exposed 

 parts. AVlien there is a turning up of the toe, blistering of the coronet 

 in front, carefully avoiding the quarters and heels, sometimes stimu- 

 lates the growth of horn, but as a rule judicious shoeing is the only 

 treatment that will keep the animal in a condition to do light, slow 

 work. 



Where suppuration of the laminae is profuse it is better to destroy 

 your patient at once and relieve his suffering, but if the suppuration 

 is limited to a small extent of tissue, especially of the sole, treatuu^nt 

 as in acute cases may induce recovery and should always be tried. If 

 from bed-sores or other causes septicaemia or pyremia is feared, the 

 bisulpliite of soda in half -ounce doses ma}' be given in conjunction 



