WOUNDS IN THE FEET. 277 



with the finger-nail ; in order to discover whether 

 there is any separation between the horny and sen- 

 sitive sole, which either had escaped the first examina- 

 tion, or which has since become disunited. If it 

 exists in the slightest degree, the separated part must 

 be carefully and thoroughly removed ; — and this 

 caution must be observed at every subsequent dress- 

 ing. If there is one thing of greater importance than 

 another, in the treatment of wounds of the feet ; it is 

 to remove every portion of horn that has ceased to 

 adhere to the fleshy part beneath. Union can never 

 be re-effected ; but the horn thus detached will remain 

 as a foreign irritating body applied to the sensitive or 

 secreting surface of the foot. 



If it has been necessary to open round the original 

 wound ; the exposed surface should be very lightly 

 touched with the chloride (butyr) of antimony, applied 

 by means of a feather. A pledget of soft tow, shaped 

 to the wound, and saturated with tar, should then be 

 put upon it, a larger piece over that, and the whole 

 confined as before with a firm and uniform pressure. 

 There are few wounds over which fresh horn will not 

 readily grow by means of this treatment. 



However, it is not well always to disturb a dressing 

 unless imperative. Therefore, supposing the symp- 

 toms to be satisfactory, the dressing had better not be 

 removed for a week at least; or if the injury be small, 

 and no indication of constitutional disturbance be ex- 

 hibited, the dressing may not be interfered with until 

 the next time of shoeing comes round. 



