OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT 89 
Where the boot is kept clean, however, it will save a ereat 
deal of time and trouble to the attendant. 
While on the subject of poulticing, it is well to remark 
that in many cases it may be more advantageous to supply 
the necessary warmth and moisture to the foot by keeping 
it immersed in a narrow tub of water maintained at the 
required temperature. By this means the warmth is 
carried further up the limb (sometimes an important point), 
and the water can more conveniently be medicated with 
whatever is required than can the poultice. In fact, it is 
the author’s general practice, where the attendants can be 
induced to take the necessary pains, to always advise this 
latter method. 
Fig. 54.—Swaps FOR appLyinc Moisture To THE Foot. 
Where a dressing is relied upon by some practitioners 
on account of the warmth it gives, others, even in identical 
cases, will depend upon the effects of cold. This may be 
applied by means of what are called ‘swabs.’ In their 
simplest form swabs may consist only of hay-bands or several 
layers of thick bandage bound round the foot and coronet, 
and kept cool by having water constantly poured upon 
them. In many cases the form of swab depicted in 
Fig. 54 will be found more convenient. 
When only one foot is required to be dressed, and a 
water-supply is available, by far the preferable method is 
to attach one end of a length of rubber tubing to the 
water-tap, and fasten the other just above the coronet, 
allowing the water to trickle slowly over the foot. In cases 
where a forced water-supply is unobtainable, and the case 
