738 OPERATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



removing it, and it must be done by degrees, and in very small 

 portions. 



The advantages of this process are : 1st, the avoidance of ex- 

 tensive wounds, and of the extreme pain produced by the extirpa- 

 tion of the quarter. 2d, to keep the foot shod, and to allow the 

 animal to resume his work as soon as the first pain has subsided, 

 which may occur at quite a considerable interval in advance of 

 the perfect cicatrization of the wound. 3d, to avoid long and fre- 

 quently-repeated dressings. 



In this method, however, the quarter left intact sometimes in- 

 terferes with the operation, and the excision of the cartilage is 

 more difficult, being only jiracticable, indeed, in cases where there 

 is a separation of the wall. 



Maillet has modified the method of Bernard, so that, instead 

 of thinning down the band of hoof, he only applies the rasp upon 

 the quarter, and thins down with it all that portion which is ex- 

 tirpated in the process of Eenault, and availing himself also, of 

 the drawing and sage-knives. The remaining details of the oper- 

 ation are like those of the ordinary processes. An objection to 

 this mode is that it can be put in practice only in cases where 

 there is already a separation of the wall. It is objectionable from 

 its tendency to weaken the foot too much, by interfering with the 

 firm and solid adjustment of the shoe, as well as retarding its 

 application to the hoof. 



