318 COMPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



dipped ill tar or Venice turpentine, is then to 

 be applied, and tlie wliole foot kept cool by 

 means of a bran poultice. The most essen- 

 tial part of tlie treatment is opening well tUe 

 orifice in the horny matter: for in wounds of 

 this kind we always find, tliat soon after the 

 nail has been vvithdrawn, the puncture in the 

 horn nearly closes ; but the living parts that 

 have been woiwided underneath tiie horn soon 

 inflame and swell ; consequently they suffer 

 considerable pressure, as the horn is too thick 

 and inflexible to give room to them as they 

 swell. At length matter forms, which, being- 

 confined by the horny covering, difluses itself 

 between the sensible and insensible parts, 

 fsometimes so extensively as to render it ne- 

 cessary to remove great part, or even the 

 whole of the latter. This operation, so often 

 cruelly and unnecessarily performed by far- 

 riers, is termed drawing the sole. In the case 

 described, where the parts are separated by 

 the matter, the operatioii is peri"ormed with 

 but little pain to the animal. But those ofla- 

 cious practitioners too often tear it off when 

 perfectly healthy, and with a view to remove 

 a lameness, of the cause and seat of which 

 they are totally ignorant. Often have I been 



