592 OPEEATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



of the feet of solipeds, seated in the secreting tissues of the horny 

 box, always beginning at the frog, and characterized by alteration 

 of the homy secretion. Names of a more scientific meaning have 

 frequently been proposed, such as gnawing ulcer (Bourgelat), 

 schirrus or caneeroiis carcinoma of the frog, carcinoma of the 

 reticular tissue of the foot (Vatel), darter of the plantar cushion, 

 chronic podoparenchydermitis (Meroier), and epithelioma of the 

 frog (Fuchs). None of these has ever been accepted, and the old 

 hippiatric name has been retained. 



History. — It is conceded that the old veterinarians were ac- 

 quaiated with canker, and Vegetius evidently speaks of it, but not 

 untU the time of SoUeysel do we find a description somewhat 

 complete of the disease and its treatment ; Garsault, La Gueri- 

 niere, Weyrother and others spoke of it, and have expressed 

 various opinions as to its etiology, and especially as to its treat- 

 ment. So little progress was discernible in the writings of Bour- 

 gelat, Chabert, Huzard and Girard, on that very question, and so 

 many false ideas were admitted, that Chabert in despair has called 

 canker the opprobrium of veterinary medicine. 



It is but recently that serious research as to the natiu'e of 

 the disease have thrown some Ught on the question, and estab- 

 lished the important fact that its seat is not in the disorganized 

 horn, but in the secreting organs, and that there is an alteration 

 in the products of this secretion ; that it is consequently to these 

 that remedies must be applied. 



We might refer to the writings of Jeannie, Crepin, Hurtrel 

 d'Arboval, Prevost, Mercier, Plasse, PercivaU, Dietrichs, Eichbaum, 

 Wells, H. Bouley, RejTial, Haubner, Fuchs, Eey, Megnin, etc., 

 each of whom has furnished his contingent, while still the inti- 

 mate nature of the disease remains but imperfectly known, and 

 there is but little certainty either in the treatment or its results. 



Let us observe, however, that in our day canker has become 

 comparatively a rare disease, especially in cities, which, doubtless, 

 is because of the cleanliness of the streets. In the beginning of 

 this century, canker and grease— closely related diseases— were 

 frequent in Paris; then horses were obliged to travel through 

 deep gutters of mud, while to-day these affections are exceptional 

 occurrences (H. Bouley). The same thing has been observed by 

 Percival in England. When hygienic precautions were not as 

 well understood as they are to-day, in establishments employ- 



