CANKEE. 173 



on '' (Malcolm). The best caustic is nitrate of lead, which may 

 be applied in powder to the diseased surface. It dries up and 

 checks the growth in a very effective manner. The resulting scab 

 should be examined from day to day, so that if any of the parts 

 underneath it become moist (thereby indicating fresh points of 

 infection), the scab may be picked off and the caustic re-applied. 



It is evident that the stricter antiseptic precautions are ob- 

 served, the better will be the result. After using the drawing knife 

 on the diseased horn, it should be disinfected before employing it 

 again on the part (p. 70). Instead of tow as a dressing, use anti- 

 septic cotton-wool ; disinfect the whole of the foot by washing it 

 with strong carbolic soap and afterwards with an antiseptic solu- 

 tion (p. 67) ; and remove the horse into a fresh stall, so that he 

 may not stand on a contaminated surface. 



When using the hot iron, care should be taken not to destroy 

 any part of the secreting membrane ; if that be done, the seat of 

 injury will lose its power to secrete horn, and a troublesome sore, 

 ending with a scar, will be the result. The cautery should be laid 

 aside as soon as the tissue cauterised ceases to burn white. 



On the supposition that canker is a parasitic disease, it has been 

 treated very successfully with a solution of corrosive sublimate (10 

 grains to the pint of water), applied by means of a pulverisator. 

 This is an instrument for forcibly directing a fine jet of fluid on any 

 particular part. Having pared down the foot, removed the under- 

 mined horn with the drawing knife, and secured the animal in the 

 stocks, project the vapour of the corrosive sublimate solution with 

 considerable strength on the ground surface of the affected foot for 

 two hours and a half. After an interval of a quarter of an hour to 

 allow the paj*ts to become dry, finish the procedure by repeating 

 the operation for about ten minutes with a saturated solution of 

 iodoform in ether. In one case, a single application of this kind, 

 followed by an ounce of liquor arsenicalis in the food for a week, 

 effected a complete cure. 



A bad case of canker was cured in fourteen days by pouring 

 creosote over the affected parts twice a day, after having removed 

 all the disintegrated tissue. Similar success was obtained with 

 two old and severe cases of this disease, from 30 to 40 minims of 

 creosote being used as a dressing twice a day. 



Mesnard had admirable results in the treatment of canker with 

 carbide of calcium ; this is a product of the electrical furnace 

 obtained by fusing carbon and lime together. When it comes in 

 contact with water, it gives off acetylene gas. Mesnard uses a 

 mixture of 320 grains of carbide of calcium and 80 grains, each, 

 of neutral acetate of copper and iodide of starch. " After remov- 

 ing the degenerated horn and debris from the parts affected, and 



