TREATMENT OF CANKER. 
273 
were cured by causing the animals to stand during four 
months on “ wet sawdust to which he attributes the cure. 
My own experience affords numerous instances where pres- 
sure alone was the curative agent. Percivall* gives as the 
cause of frush, “ diminished function,” and paring away of the 
frog ; placing shoes on too high at the heels ; leaving the 
heels of the foot too high, &c. And in his directions as to 
treatment, t he urges “ restoration of the frog’s natural office.” 
All this shows the great importance of pressure, not only to 
the diseased, but to the healthy foot also. M. Fischer, { in 
treating canker, used pressure conjointly with dressings. 
Notwithstanding what has been said and done with regard to 
canker, and its cure, I think a large field is yet open for exten- 
sive investigation, as it regards the preventive mode of treat- 
ment ; and, in all sincerity, I recommend a trial of maintaining 
the proper functions of the foot by allowing due pressure. 
Nature protects the sensitive parts of the foot by the horny 
box. Why should we, at every shoeing, cut and rasp so 
much away ? The healthiest foot is always active in secreting 
horn, the solar surface soon becomes level with the crust, and 
desquamates by its own inherency. The same also occurs 
with the frog ; but the crust, whose fibres are in an opposite 
direction to the secreted layers of the sole, cannot desqua- 
mate. Therefore, let the sole and frog remove their own 
useless portions (except when ragged appearances present 
themselves in the latter), and that portion of the crust which 
is prevented from being torn away by the presence of the 
shoe, let it be carefully levelled ; the toe shortened, so as to 
lay the shoe both on the wall and sole, and proper attention 
be always paid to the removing or the shoeing of the animal. 
By this means, I am certain none of the evils alluded to will 
ever occur; and a glance at the accepted physiology of 
the various structures of the foot will, I am sure, justify such a 
course of treatment ; and this is not to be considered as mere 
theory, for under my own cognizance it has for at least ten 
years stood the test of practice. 
In addition to the treatment above named, I cannot con- 
clude without observing that internal and other remedies 
must not be forgotten, depending on the state of the patient 
at the time ; such as the application of cold lotions to the 
inflamed absorbents, or fomentations, &c., with laxatives, 
febrifuges, tonics, and diuretics internally. 
* Part ii, vol. iv, p. 431. f Ibid., p. 43G. 
X ‘Veterinarian,’ Feb., 1853, p. 96. 
