DISEASES. 637 



moval has resulted in the sloughing of a small piece of dead tis- 

 sue, it may be sufficient, the foot being pared thin, as already ad- 

 vised, to simply make an infundibuliform opening, various in size, 

 so as to expose the bottom of the wound. For that purpose, the 

 drawing knife or the sage knife is used, a hght shoe is put on,' and 

 a dressing of digestive ointment, segyptiacum, or simply alcohoUc 

 mixtures, are kept on by plates. At times it is advantageous to 

 assist the process of sloughing by the use of caustics, sulphate of 

 copper, Villate's solution, tincture of iodine, etc. If the wound is 

 near or at the heels, the branches of the shoe are shortened and 

 an appropriate dressing is put on. Subsequent dressings require 

 the same care. Cicatrization goes on and the hoof soon returns 

 to its normal condition. Sometimes the surgeon is called only 

 when the inflammation is far advanced and suppuration already 

 estabhshed. This peculiar condition is manifested by the swell- 

 ing and heat of the parts, the acute pains, and often the high fever. 

 The wound then must be at once enlarged and the pus allowed to 

 escape, and this is the true operation for deep punctured wounds. 

 The operation becomes more serious if there is separation, 

 partial or total, of the sole or frog, with a more or less advanced 

 disorganization of the tissues underneath. If there is escape of 

 purulent synovia, extensive cuttings are to be made. 



In olden times, to perform the operation of the deep punc- 

 tured wound, the entire removal of the sole was performed, wdth- 

 out distinction or exception and notwithstanding the severe pain 

 following it. In our day, a portion of separated sole or frog 

 only is taken off. This is done by slices, and only so far as neces- 

 sary for the other steps of the operation. 



This operation is indicated when there is great pain, continu- 

 ing without regard to what treatment has been foUowed. It is 

 also when the plantar aponeurosis has assumed a greenish tint, 

 diffused in its extent, without indication of a repairing process, 

 with the marks of sloughing of the dead structure. The instru- 

 ments needed are various : sage knives, single and double ; draw- 

 ing knives of various sizes : a directory, bistoury and forceps. 



The animal, properly secured, and placed under anaesthetics, 

 if too irritable (Bouley), the horny structures are removed where- 

 ever the suppuration has separated them from the soft tissues be- 

 neath, or the sole is only pared down thin, as well as the horny 

 frog in its whole extent. 



