334 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



incisions are made in the swelling, and from them obtained 

 a flow of blood mingled with a small quantity of pus from 

 several different centres. By this means sloughing of the 

 diseased portion is quickly obtained, and nothing but an 

 ordinary open wound left for treatment. It should be men- 

 tioned, however, that when sloughing can be in any way 

 induced to take place naturally it is better to allow this 

 to take place. Even when the necrosed portion is freely 

 movable, and only adherent by its base, it should not be 

 forcibly removed, but left to the slower but more effectual 

 action of the tissue reactions. If torn forcibly away, we in 

 all probability leave in the bottom of the wound remnants 

 of the dead tissue, which, being small and consequently less 

 productive of inflammatory phenomena, are not so readily 

 sloughed as the larger portion. These remain as centres of 

 infection, and prolong the case. 



Once a suitable slough has occurred, the after-treatment 

 is simple. It consists in dressing the wound with reliable 

 antiseptics, and maintaining the parts in a healthy con- 

 dition until Nature completes the cure by repairing the 

 breach. Solutions of carbolic acid, of perchloride of mer- 

 cury, of zinc chloride, or of moderately strong solutions of 

 copper sulphate, are all of them useful (see also treatment 

 of coronitis on p. 236). 



It is sometimes found that even with careful attention 

 the wound left l)y the removal of the slough shows a marked 

 disinclination to heal. The greater portion of the cavity 

 becomes filled with granulation tissue, and the epidermis 

 gradually closes round until all is covered except a spot of 

 perhaps the size of half a crown or a crown piece. Here 

 the regenerative process stops, and the wound obstinately 

 refuses to effectually close. 



In such cases we have derived excellent results with the 

 actual cautery. The animal is cast, the foot firmly secured 

 by fastening it upon the cannon of another limb, and the 

 animal chloroformed. A. practical point to be remembered 

 in this connection is that all necessary fixing of the limb is 

 easier performed if the chloroform is administered first. 



