60 THE CANADIAN HOESB 



Treatment. — In no case is so much patience required as 

 in canker — in fact, it is generally considered as incurable, 

 from the difficulty experienced in suppressing the fungus, 

 and getting the horn to grow again. All loose and detached 

 horn must be carefully removed, so as to give free vent 

 to the irritating matter. As mu ch of the fu ngus as may 

 seem practicable^'ithou t_niuch_bleedingt^should be removed 

 by the knife or cautery, and followed up by some escharotic, 

 such a s acetate or sulphat e of copper, nitrate of silver, butter 

 ^ antimon y, or su lphuric aci d. Whatever caustic is used 

 must be applied every day ; for if neglected for one day, it 

 is apt to under-run the sole, and may lose more than it will 

 regain in a week. Firm pressure is very beneficial, and 

 should be constantly applied by means of tow, firmly im- 

 pacted, and retained by means of slips of wood or hoop-iron 

 slid under the shoe, and the foot must be kept perfectly dry. 



The caustic may be occasionally changed. To destroy the 

 fcetor, chloride of zinc or chloride of lime may be dusted 

 on, or even occasional dressings of dry lime will be useful. 



" Humanity," says Mr Youatt, " perhaps will dictate that, 

 considering the long process of cure in a cankered foot, and 

 the daily torture of caustic, and the suffering which would 

 otherwise result from so large or exposed a surface, the 

 nerves of the leg should be divided, to take away the sense 

 of pain ; but then special care must be taken that the horse 

 is placed in such a situation, and exposed to such work, that, 

 being insensible to pain, he mawnot mjuriously batter and 

 bruise th# diseased parts^^;^ Mf^^^// '^^ /^J^ 



We have generally loolced upon cases of extensive canker 

 as very hopeless indeed ; but Professor Dick, than whom 

 there is no better, authority, says — "Cleanliness, per- 

 severance, and time will effect a cure ; but with a dressing 

 of tar^Jn_whichyerdigris and nitric acid, two drachms of 



