DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



337 



disease may be contagious. Occurrences have been reported where 

 foot rot of cattle has appeared within a short time among a large pro- 

 portion of the cattle in a farming district. This disease is most fre- 

 quently seen in the hind feet, though all four feet may become 

 affected . 



Symptoms. — The animal is observed to limp in walking. On exami- 

 nation of the foot we discover heat, and swelling above the hoof and 

 of the soft parts between the claws which frequently spreads the 

 claws apart to a considerable extent ; or the inflammation may have 

 advanced to softening and sloughing of the interdigital membrane. 

 If the disease is neglected at this stage, deep abscesses may form and 

 the pus burrow under the horny wall, or the joint within the hoof 

 may become inflamed and the articular attachments destroyed, in 

 which case the treatment will become difficult and recovery .will be 

 very tedious. 



Treatment. — In the earlier stages of the disease, before pus burrows 

 beneath the horn, a thorough cleansing and an application of a car- 

 bolic-acid solution — 1 ounce to a pint of water — clean stabling, and 

 laxative food will usually remedy the evil. Creolin is an excellent 

 remedy at this stage. It should be applied to the suppurating and 

 putrefying tissue between the claws in its pure or undiluted state. It 

 is best applied by means of a cotton swab on a thin stick. Care must 

 be exercised to keep the creolin from contact with the skin about the 

 coronary band or heels. If deep sloughing has taken place the car- 

 bolic solution or creolin should be used, and a wad of oakum or cot- 

 ton smeared with pine tar should be secured firmly in the cleft. This 

 can be done by taking a strip of strong cloth, 2 inches wide, passing 

 the middle between the claws, then tying the ends after winding them 

 in opposite directions above the hoof. Sometimes warm poulticing 

 with flaxseed meal or bran becomes necessary to relieve excessive 

 fever and pain. If the pus burrows under the horn, its channel must 

 be followed by paring away the horn until the bottom is reached. 

 The after-treatment will be the same as that already recommended. 

 If the joint becomes diseased, an amputation of that toe will be the 

 quickest and surest method to relieve the suffering of the animal, and 

 offers the best chance .for an early recovery. 



ULCERATION OF THE HEEL. 



Occasionally we find ulcers at the junction of the hair with the hoof 

 at the heel, which present an elevated, raw, or ragged surface, and 

 cause considerable lameness. This is generally due to a bruise of the 

 fibrous cushion of the back part of the foot. Subsequent sloughing 

 or necrosis may occur, or pus may form deep down within the wall 

 and gain an exit at the margin of the heel. Sometimes large pieces 

 of skin slough from the heel and pastern from no visible cause. This 

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