334 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Treatment. — Rest, poulticing the feet with moistened clay, fol- 

 lowed by astringent washes — strong white-ouk bark or alum water. 



If the pain and heat last several days, it is probable that pus has 

 formed beneath the wall of the hoof. In this case it is necessary 

 to cut through tlie wall, usually at the most prominent part of the 

 sole, to allow the accumulation to drain out. The animal should 

 then stand for several houi-s daily in a tub containing creolin 

 solution (3 per cent). When not in the creolin solution the foot 

 should be dressed with pine tar and cotton and bandaged with 

 bagging. 



LOSS OF HOOF. 



Cattle sometimes become fastened between planks or otherwise 

 and pull off the wall of one or both claws in the effort to extricate 

 themselves. The claws of one or more feet may be shed as the result 

 of acute laminitis. 



Treatment. — Wash the bleeding surface with an antiseptic and 

 then with an astringent, such as a weak solution of alum, then apply a 

 thick coating of pine tar; cover this with a layer of oakum or ab- 

 sorbent cotton ; apply another coat of tar over this, and then bandage 

 closely and firmly. This may remain without disturbance until the 

 new growing wall becomes sufficiently strong to sustain the pressure 

 and weight of the animal. If, however, at any time oozing or bad 

 fmell indicate that pus is forming under this dressing, the bandage 

 should be removed and the supjiurating surface freshly cleaned and 

 dressed. This may have to be repeated every few days and should 

 be continued so long as there is any pus formation. If the loss 

 of hoof is owing to suppurative laminitis, the parts denuded of the 

 horny covering must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected with 

 carbolic acid, lysol, or other antiseptic. Then apply a moderately 

 thick layer of absorbent cotton and over this apply the tar and 

 bandage. After this the antiseptic solution may be poured in daily 

 at the top of the dressing. It will thus soak in and saturate the 

 dressing and inflamed tissue. It may become necessary to remove 

 all the dressing at dailj^ or longer intervals to give the parts a fresh 

 cleaning, and then to reapply it. 



FOUL IN FOOT (FOOT ROT). 



A variety of causes may produce inflammation of the foot between 

 tlic claws or toes. It may be on account of overgrowth of the claws 

 and inward pressure, as in ingrowing nail of man, or it may be 

 caused by the irritation of stable filth by impaction and hardening of 

 soil between the claws, or by other foreign substances becoming 

 \\'edged in, causing inflammation and softening or ulceration of the 

 skin in the interiligital space. Under some conditions several cattle 



