44 



DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



or box stall, by providing shoes with short heels, by placing a boot 

 about the hoof or large stuffed ring above the foot about the limb. 

 Capped hock is caused by the animal striking the hock in kicking 

 and also by lack of bedding. Padding the stall or hobbling the hind 

 limbs together may prevent further damage. So also an abundance 

 of bedding may prevent capped knees, but often the animal has the 

 habit of pawing the bedding away. A tight over-drawn check and 

 low ceilings cause pressure and blows upon the poll and cause poll 

 evil. Unfortunately, bursitis usually has already occurred before 

 steps are taken to forestall it. 



Treatment. — In the acute stage of serous bursitis the treat- 

 ment is the same in whatever site it may be found. Rest of the 

 part and the application of heat by fomentations, or, .better, con- 

 tinuously by the use of wet antiseptic dressings (two per cent, 

 creolin), covered with rubber or waterproof material and bandage, 

 when possible. Cold is equally efficient, as by the employment of 

 continuous irrigation, or ice poultices — difficult to keep in place in 

 veterinary practice. Astringent preparations, as white lotion (lead 

 acetate and zinc sulphate, each 3iii to Oi) on gauze kept contin- 

 uously wet with the same, are also of value. The application of 

 high heeled shoes on the hind limb is of benefit in capped hock. 

 Pressure by bandage is of service, when it can be applied, as in 

 capped knee. For the same reason, collodion may be painted on the 

 shaved part. After the acute stage has departed counter-irritants 

 are in order. The ointment of red mercuric iodide (i to 8) or 

 Churchill's tincture of iodine may be applied every other day till the 

 part becomes a little sore. The action of the following preparation 

 is highly commended : Norway tar and green soap, each 4.5 parts ; 

 and tannic acid, 1 part; the mixture being stirred and painted on 

 the swelling daily until recovery occurs, without regard to the des- 

 quammation of the skin it causes. 



In suppurating bursitis the sac should be opened at the earliest 

 possible moment, to prevent extension of the infection and burrow- 



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