THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 255 



common sense will direct its extraction, and its extraction will 

 be probably followed by a flow of purulent matter. Suppose 

 there be a punctured wound only, with inflammation and an 

 abscess more or less deeply seated : in both cases the hoof 

 around the spot must be neatly and cautiously pared down, 

 and, as far as it has separated from the parts beneath, 

 removed ; let the abscess be opened, and the purulent matter 

 have a free exit A poultice of linseed meal may be then 

 applied and changed twice a day, and in a few days, if all goes 

 on well, and healthy healing take place, a little butyr of anti- 

 mony sprinkled over the denuded part every day will induce 

 a new secretion of horn, while a simple bandage, or a pledget 

 of soft tow, bound over the whole, will be a sufficient dress- 

 ing. If fungous granulations appear, they may be levelled 

 with a sharp pair of scissors or a knife, and touched with 

 caustic. 



If on examination of the foot of a lame animal no wound 

 appears, it will be necessary to try the hoof in every part by 

 a pair of pincers, and when the pressure gives pain, indicated 

 by the flinching or shrinking of the animal, let the horn be 

 there shaved away and the abscess laid open. 



Perhaps, however, suppuration has not commenced, but 

 the inflammation is strong and active : under such circum- 

 stances, the foot must be well fomented, and afterwards 

 enveloped in a large linseed-meal poultice ; this will soften 

 the horny hoof, and promote the suppuration, while at the 

 same time it relieves the pain and inflammation. In due 

 time the abscess shows itself on the coronet, and must be 

 opened by a lancet ; the direction of the sinus should be 

 ascertained by a probe, and the horn shaved away along its 

 course so as to lay it open ; should there be several sinuses, 

 the same plan must be resorted to with each. Poultices must 

 now be renewed until healthy granulations appear, and every 

 particle of loose or unsound horn must be removed ; butyr of 

 antimony may now be lightly applied, or the wound may be 

 dressed with Friar's balsam on lint ; this must be renewed 

 every day, and a bandage wrapped firmly and evenly round 

 the hoof. 



Cattle, especially such as are fattening upon stimulating 

 food, are subject to inflammation, cracks, soreness, fungous 

 excrescences, and a foetid discharge between the toes. If the 

 disease be neglected the inflammation extends ; in a few days 

 abscesses form and burst, and others succeed until the foot 



