410 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
In other cases it will be found that suppuration is well under way, 
so that the center of the tumor is soft when the patient is first pre- 
sented for treatment. It is always good surgery to relieve the tumor 
of pus whenever its presence can be detected; hence, in these cases a 
free incision must be made into the softened parts, the pus evacu- 
ated, and the foot poulticed. 
By surgical interference the tumor is now converted into an open 
sore or ulcer, which, after it has been well cleaned by warm baths 
and poultices applied for two or three days, needs to be protected by 
proper dressings. The best of all protective dressings is made of 
small balls, or pledgets, of oakum, carefully packed into the wound 
and held in place by a roller bandage 4 yards long, from 3 to 4 inches 
wide, made of common bedticking and skillfully applied. 
The remedies which may be used to stimulate the healing process 
are many, and, as a rule, they are applied in the form of solutions or 
tinctures. 
In my own practice I prefer a solution of bichlorid of mercury 1 
part, water 500 parts, with a few drops of muriatic acid or a few 
grains of muriate of ammonia added to dissolve the mercury. The 
balls of oakum are wet with this solution before they are applied to 
the wound. 
Among the other remedies which may be used, and perhaps with 
equally as good results, will be noted the sulphate of copper, iron, and 
zinc, 5 grains of either to the ounce of water; chlorid of zinc, 5 grains 
to the ounce; carbolic acid, 20 drops dissolved in an equal quantity of 
glycerin and added to 1 ounce of water; and nitrate of silver, 10 
grains to the ounce of water. 
If the wound is slow to heal, it will be found of advantage to 
change the remedies every few days. 
If the wound is pale in color, the granulations transparent and 
glistening, the tincture of aloes, tincture of gentian, or the spirits of 
camphor may do best. , 
When the sore is red in color and healing rapidly, an ointment 
made of 1 part of carbolic acid to 40 parts of cosmoline or vaseline is 
all that is needed. 
If the granulations continue to grow until a tumor is formed which 
projects beyond the surrounding skin, it should be cut off with a 
sharp, clean knife, and the foot poulticed for twenty-four. hours, 
after which the wound is to be well cauterized daily with lunar 
caustic and the bandages applied with great firmriess. 
The question as to how often the dressings should be renewed must 
be determined by the condition of the wound, etc. If the sore is sup- 
purating freely, it will be necessary to renew the dressing every 
24 or 48 hours; if the discharge is small in quantity and the patient 
comfortable, the dressing may be left on for several days; in fact, 
