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A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
I drachm to i 2 ounces, or sulphate of zinc or copper, 4 or 5 grains 
to the ounce of water, should be applied once daily. An occasional 
application of weak solution of chloride of zinc proves beneficial. 
The affected parts must be covered with tow and the foot enveloped 
in sacking ; on recovery the animal should not be worked in water 
for two or three months. 
Abscess of the Foot. 
Causes. — The sole of the foot is comparatively thin and nature 
intended it for transit over soft ground ; it follows therefore that 
when an animal is put to constant work on hard roads or rough 
country, especially when the work is carried on for protracted 
intervals, the slipper or sole becomes unduly worn and attenuated, 
and in this condition may very easily be severely bruised or wounded 
by blunt bodies, and abscess is very likely to arise. 
Symptoms — Are the same as already described, with no 
swelling, or at least so slight as to easily escape notice ; intense pain 
(especially when pressed with the fingers), to which lameness is 
superadded, or the animal by his posture may arouse suspicion such 
as constantly resting the affected foot. Inflammation as in other 
parts is apt to extend, in which case heat and puffiness may be 
observed around the hoof-slipper or even above the nails. Matter 
frequently, owing to its being unable to find an exit at the sole, 
burrows upwards and escapes above the nails at the junction of the 
slipper with the skin sometimes leaving a passage or sinus. 
The temperature should always be taken. 
Treatment. — As soon as an animal shows signs of lameness the 
foot should be examined most carefully for wounds. By gently 
tapping the sole with a hammer, if any tenderness is evinced, or 
if any undue heat can be noticed with the hand, the animal should 
be rested, and if this is done early enough trouble may be 
averted ; the sole must be thoroughly cleansed with brush and 
carbolized soft-soap and water and a cold bran-poultice applied ; but 
if this does not reduce the heat and tenderness in twenty-four hours 
or thereabouts, hot fomentations should be substituted and the tem- 
perature taken every four hours or so ; for if the inflammation is of 
a severe character the thermometer is sure to show a rise, in which 
case there should be no delay in opening the abscess. In this 
situation owing to the horny nature of the sole, it should be pared 
over the seat of inflammation till quite thin before using the knife ; 
this procedure should immediately be carried out in the case of 
punctured wounds in anticipation of future mischief. After this, 
