732 OPEEATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



with the sage knife, the gouge, or the chisel, according to the 

 existing conditions. But ia this case, portions of the reticular 

 structure require removal, of which, however, as little as possible 

 should be destroyed. 



It may happen that the portion of the coronary band covering 

 the cartilage may be destroyed, either wholly or in. part, either as 

 an effect of the disease, or by accident during the operation. In 

 the first case, if the entire band has been destroyed, there is noth- 

 ing to be done. But in the other case, if any portions of it re- 

 main, care must be taken to insure their preservation, as they 

 may supply the necessary elements for a new, healthy secretion of 

 hoof, and the quarter may grow again, more soUd and less de- 

 formed. If the wound of the coronary band consists merely in a 

 simple division of limited extent, the wisest course will be to at- 

 tempt to obtain union by immediate adhesion, or first intention, 

 by bringing the edges of the incision together and maintaining 

 the contact by careful dressing. "When the alteration of the re- 

 ticular tissue alone, is present, it is very essential to avoid the ex- 

 cision of the injured laminae. It is, in fact, the better course to 

 avoid wholly the use of sharp instruments, and to leave to the 

 natural process of suppuration the removal of the disorganized 

 parts. Renault having observed how their removal interfered 

 with the reparative process, has often left them undisturbed, even 

 when their dark color and softened condition indicated the smaU- 

 ness of their chance of conservation. The success of the opera^ 

 tion after a first dressing, has shown the wisdom of the plan of 

 non-interference ; they were found covered with a new layer of 

 yellowish hoof; and D'Arboval has on several occasions observed 

 the same result. 



The dressing must be methodically and carefuUy applied. 

 Done well, a dressing greatly assists in the recovery, whUe many, 

 when badly performed, have been the cause of serious complica- 

 tions, which have greatly hindered the repairing process, and of- 

 ten, indeed, rendered a disease incurable, which need not have 

 been beyond remedy. In the application of the dressing, two 

 points are important to consider: first, we must dress the subcu- 

 taneous wound, resulting from the separation of the skin and the 

 extraction of the fibro-cartilage ; the other, that of the sub-horny 

 wound, produced by the removal of the portion of the quarter. 

 Both are important, but the second requires the greater care, and 



