440 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



borne, bring them around the foot loosely, and repeat at short 

 intervals as they become cool ; or a lot of bran" or mud can be put 

 into a box, and hot water poured on until, at the temperature 

 desired, when the foot can be placed in it up to the ankle, as before 

 explained. The general practice is to tie a poultice of bran around 

 the foot, and keep wet with cold water until the inflammation sub- 

 sides, which would be good treatment ; but if there is much inflam- 

 mation and lameness, I would certainly advise, as far as practicable, 

 hot fomentations continued for about an hour, then alternating with 



cold, and repeated 1 

 two or three times, 

 each day ; but letting 

 the poultice or cloths 

 remain on until cool 

 will be sufficient for 

 reaction from the pre- 

 vious application of 

 heat. 



If cold applications 

 are used," it is impor- 

 tant that there be suf- 

 ficient bran or wet 

 cloths tied around the 

 foot and ankle to keep 

 the parts thoroughly 

 wet and cool, until in- 

 flammation subsides, 

 in addition to which 

 the bottom of the foot 

 should be kept stuffed with flaxseed meal, or anything that will 

 aid in keeping the foot moist and cool. If this is done, after about 

 a week the attack will usually pass off. After the a,cute stage has 

 passed off— and the wet cloths should be kept o.n until that time, 

 even if there is no lameness — it is good practice to apply a sharp 

 blister around the heel and coronet. It is in any event necessary, 

 and may be even repeated once or twice, should there still remain 

 any lameness. In the meantime, as before stated, the horse should 

 be kept quiet, and if there is much lameness, there should be given 

 in the first place a small dose of physic, with laxative, cooling food. 

 This is all that is necessary to do in any ordinary case, and es- 

 pecially at an early stage. 



It is next important not to expose the horse to conditions that 



Fig. 758. — As the Seion Should be Inserted into the Foot. 



A, A, the seton; B, the sensitive frog; C, navicular 

 bone ; D, insensitive frog. 



