448 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



affected part may be painted with tincture of muriate of iron or with 

 iodized phenol. In mild cases a lotion of 4 drams sugar of lead and 

 2 ounces laudanum in a quart of water may be applied. It is desir- 

 able to avoid the formation of wounds and the consequent septic 

 action, yet when pus has formed and is felt by fluctuation under the 

 finger to be approaching the surface it should be freely opened with 

 a clean, sharp lancet, and the wound thereafter disinfected daily with 

 carbolic acid 1 part to AA'ater 10 parts, with a saturated solution of 

 hyposulphite of soda, or with powders of iodoform or salol. 



HOESEPOX, ANTHRAX, AND CUTANEOUS GLANDERS (rAECy). 



These subjects will come more properly under the head of conta- 

 gious diseases. 



CALLOSITIES. 



These are simple thickening and induration of the cuticle by reason 

 of continued pressure, notably in lying down on a hard surface. Be- 

 ing devoid of hair, they cause blemishes; hence smooth floors and 

 good bedding should be secured as preventives. 



HORNY SLOUGHS (SITFASTS) , OR SLOUGHING CALLOSITIES. 



These are circumscribed sloughs of limited portions of the skin, the 

 result of pressure by badly fitting harness or by irritating masses of 

 dirt, sweat, and hairs under the harness. They are most common 

 under the saddle, but maj' be found under collar or breeching as well. 

 The sitfast is a piece of dead tissue which would be thrown off but 

 that it has formed firm connections with the fibrous skin beneath, or 

 even deeper with the fibrous layers (fascia) of the muscles, or with 

 the bones, and is thus bound in its place as a persistent source of irri- 

 tation. The hornlike slough may thus involve the superficial part of 

 the skin only, or the whole thickness of the skin, and even of some of 

 the structures beneath. The first object is to remove the dead irri- 

 tant by dissecting it off with a sharp knife, after which the sore may 

 be treated with simple wet cloths or a weak carbolic-acid lotion, like a 

 common wound. If the outline of the dead mass is too indefinite, a 

 linseed-meal poultice will make its outline more evident to the opera- 

 tor. If the fascia or bone has become gangrenous, the dead portion 

 must be removed with the hornlike skin. During and after treat- 

 ment the horse must be kept at rest or the harness must be so adjusted 

 that no pressure can come near the affected parts. (See also page 

 470.) 



AVARTS. 



These are essentially a morbid overgrowth of the superficial papil- 

 lary layer of the skin and of the investing cuticular layer. They are 



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