775 
ACUTE INFLAMMATION 
OF THE PO DO PH V L LO U S MEMBRANE. 
acute inflammation of the sensitive structures of the foot, certain special 
precautions must be borne in mind. The advice to as far as possible 
remove the cause is eminently applicable here. Aseptic pododermatitis 
seldom calls for more than rest and cold applications in the form of 
poultices or continued irrigation. These soften the horn and permit it 
to yield under the pressure of the soft structures, while they directly 
diminish inflammation. As a precaution, however, after applying 
moisture for long periods, the hoof should be greased, to prevent it 
completely drying again. When lameness disappears, special attention 
must he given to shoeing. 
Superficial inflammation, accompanied by suppuration, is best treated 
by thinning the horn, and allowing the pus to find early exit. An opening 
of a quarter to half an inch in circumference is sufficient to allow of the 
thin fluid pus escaping, after which the cavity is washed out, and injected 
with a disinfectant. Foot-baths are sometimes useful, though nothing 
but clean water should be used, unless the addition of a disinfectant be 
thought advisable. The opening should be covered, first, with a mass 
of cotton-wool saturated in a disinfecting solution, and then with a 
proper cotton- or wood- wool dressing to exclude sand, earth, or dirt, 
and plenty of clean, dry straw given as bedding. The dressing must 
be renewed several times a day. As a rule, with these precautions, 
recovery occurs in five to eight days. As already remarked, particular 
care is required when inflammation affects the bars. 
The treatment of parenchymatous pododermatitis, accompanied by 
suppuration, requires greater care. To prevent the occurrence of puru¬ 
lent cellulitis, pus must be allowed free exit. The diseased area should, 
therefore, be exposed as far as possible, and neighbouring parts thinned, 
though without removing more horn than is absolutely necessary. 
Thinning the horn relieves inflammatory swelling around the suppu¬ 
rating centre. The next precaution is to remove all putrefying material 
from the inflamed cavity. For this purpose the parts are carefully 
washed with sublimate solution, or, if necessary, immersed in a dis¬ 
infectant foot-bath. They are next rinsed with sublimate, carbolic, or 
creolin solution, a tampon saturated with the same material applied to 
the exposed soft tissues, and a pressure dressing fastened over all. It 
is often necessary to inject the parts with the above, or with 10 per cent, 
chloride of zinc solution. 
A pressure dressing answers the double purpose of protecting the 
inflamed spot from dirt and the entrance of fresh infective material, 
and of preventing protrusion of soft parts, to which there is a consider¬ 
able tendency, partly from removal of support, but largely in consequence 
of inflammatory swelling. Being irritated by contact with the margins 
of the opening, the soft tissues swell and cause great pain, block the 
