INFLAMMATORY AFFECTIONS 297 
left on each side of the portion removed, and of keeping the 
exposed structures free from dirt and grit. 
Practical points to be remembered in fitting plates of this 
description to the feet are: The plate must never quite 
reach the shoe, or it will participate in the concussion of 
progression, and so loosen the screws that hold it in place. 
For the same reason, that portion of the sole adjoining the 
piece of horn removed must have its bearing on the shoe 
relieved. The screws holding the plate should.be oiled to 
prevent rusting, and should take an oblique direction in 
order to obtain as great a hold as possible on the wall. 
When excision is deemed unwise or unnecessary, treat- 
ment should be directed towards maintaining the cavity in 
a state of asepsis. To this end it should be thoroughly 
cleaned of its contents, and afterwards dressed with medicated 
tow. The ordinary tar and grease stopping is as suitable as 
any. This, together with the tow, is tightly plugged into 
the opening and kept in position by a wide-webbed shoe. 
Instead of the tar stopping and the tow, there may be used 
with advantage the artificial hoof-horn of Defay (see p. 152). 
Before using this the cavity should again be thoroughly 
cleaned out, and should in addition be mopped out with 
ether. The latter injunction is important, as unless the 
grease is thus first removed, the composition will fail to 
adhere to the horn. With the cavity thus cleaned and 
prepared, the artificial horn, melted ready to hand, is poured 
into it and allowed to set. 
In every case, no matter what else the treatment, the 
bearing of the horn adjacent to the lesion should be removed 
from the shoe. 
Whether practising the method of plugging the cavity or 
that of excision of the wall external to it, attempts to quickly 
obtain a new growth of horn from the coronet should be 
made. To further that, frequent stimulant applications 
should be used. Ointment of Biniodide of Mercury 1 in 8, 
of Cantharides 1 in 8, or the ordinary Oil of Cantharides, 
either will serve. 
