264 KENNEL DISEASES. 
foot is reproduced with sufficient rapidity to fully replace that which is worn off. 
The hunting season over and a dog laid up, as it were, fora time that reproduc- 
tion is much less active; but the wear becoming great again the process of re- 
newal is quickened to meet the changed conditions. There are limits, however, 
and it is possible for the loss by wear to be decidedly in excess of the new 
supply. Hence if a dog is taken from his kennels and put afield very early in 
the season, and made to do fast and hard work before he has been properly 
brought up to it by moderate work or exercise, and his pads, which have softened 
during his lay off, have become toughened, firm, and hard, there is certainly a 
liability of his wearing through the covering, exposing the sensitive portion of 
the foot, and in consequence suffering from lameness. 
Foot-soreness is easily made out on examination ; and the essential treatment 
is very simple. The foot must be first soaked well in tepid water, and afterward 
thoroughly cleaned. It should then be covered with absorbent cotton, and in- 
closed in a small cloth bag. A solution of the chloride of zinc — two grains, 
to water one ounce — having been obtained, the cotton and bag should be wet 
with it, and over all can wisely be drawn another bag, to serve as a boot, made 
of chamois skin, kid, or other thin leather; and that be fastened at the ankle by 
means of a tape. As often as necessary to keep the dressing moist, a little of 
the solution should be poured into the boot. 
Unless the case be a very aggravated one the soreness should generally have 
disappeared at the end of a week or ten days; but thereafter for a time it would 
be advisable to dress the foot and apply the solution in like manner after every 
hard day’s work. 
Dew-claws are occasionally the cause of lameness. They are sometimes 
torn off, and the wound left as a rule heals very slowly. <A condition that is 
quite as troublesome exists where a claw has grown to excessive length and 
curls in. It cannot then be worn away at the end like the others, and makes 
the dog actually lame or causes him to favor the affected foot and not put it 
fairly and completely on the ground. Increasing steadily in length and curving 
in always, it eventually must penetrate the foot, when the lameness will be 
very decided and continually on the increase. 
The longer the trouble is allowed to persist the greater the discomfort and 
difficulty of removing the offending claw. Sooner or later it may cause severe 
inflammation and swelling of the toe. 
To remove the excessive growth, sharp wire-nippers or cutting-plyers should 
be used. It would not be advisable to cut off much of the claw at one operation, 
but, instead, it were best to snip it little by little until it is reduced to normal 
length; and thereafter it should be watched and the cutting repeated from time 
to time as necessary. 
Occasionally the result of injury, which may even be trivial, a dog’s toe be- 
comes inflamed and swollen, causing him to go lame; and in the course of 4 few 
