386 



indications ; if gangrene of the lateral cartilage takes place it must be 

 treated as directed under tlie head of cartilaginous quittor ; if the vel- 

 vety tissue is gangrenous it must be cut away, and if the coffin bone is 

 necrosed it must be scra})ed, and the resulting wounds are to be treated 

 on general principles. After any of the operations for corns have been 

 performed, in which the soft tissues have been laid bare, it is best to 

 protect the foot b3" a sole of soft leather, set beneath the shoe, when the 

 animal is returned to work. Only in rare instances are the complica- 

 tions of corn so serious as to destroy the life or usefulness of the patient. 

 It is the wide, flat foot, with low heels and a thin wall, which is most 

 liable to resist all efforts toward effecting a complete cure, 



BRUISE OF THE FROG. 



When the frog is severely bruised the injury is followed by suppura- 

 tion beneath the horn, and at times by partial gangrene of the plantar 

 cushion. 



Causes. — A bruise of the frog generally happens from the animal 

 stepping on a rough stone or other hard object. It is more apt to take 

 place when the animal is trotting, running, or jumpiug than when he is 

 at a slower pace. A stone wedged between the branches of the shoe 

 in the cleft of the frog, or between the sides of the frog and the shoe, 

 and remaining for a time, produces the same results. A cut through the 

 horny frog with some sharp instrument or a punctured wound with a 

 blunt pointed instrument may also cause suppuration and gangrene of 

 the plantar cushion. Broad, flat feet, with low heels and a fleshy frog, 

 are most liable to these injuries. 



Symptoms. — Lameness, severe in proportion to the extent of the 

 bruise and the consequent suppuration, is always an early symptom. 

 When the animal moves the toe only is placed to the ground, or the 

 foot is carried in the air and the patient hobbles along on three legs. 

 When he is at rest the foot is set forward with the toe resting on the 

 ground and the leg flexed at the fetlock joint. As soon as the pus 

 finds its way to the surface the lameness improves. If the frog is ex- 

 amined early the injured spot may usually be found, and if no opening 

 exists the collection of pus may be detected working its way toward 

 the heels. The horn is felt to be loosened from the deeper tissues, and 

 if it is pared through, a thin, yellow, watery and offensiv^o pus escapes. 

 In other cases a ragged opening is found in the frog, leading down to 

 a mass of dead, sloughing tissues, which are x)ale green in color if gan- 

 grene of the plantar cushion has set in. In rare cases the colifln bone 

 *may be involved in the injury and a small portion of it become carious. 



Treatment. — If the injury is seen at once the foot should be placed 

 in a bath of cold water with the object of preventing suppuration. If 

 suppuration has already set in the horn of the frog, and of the bars 

 and branches of the sole if necessary, is to be pared thin, so that all 

 possible pressure may be removed and the foot poulticed. As soon as 



