THE HORSE’S FOOT. 
545 
dressing is put on. Subsequent dressings require the same care. 
Cicatrization goes on and the hoof soon returns to its normal con 
dition. Sometimes the surgeon is called only when the inflamma¬ 
tion is far advanced and suppuration w already established. This 
peculiar condition is manifested by the swelling and heat of the 
parts, the acute pains, and often the high fever. The wound then 
must be at once enlarged and the pus allowed to escape, and this 
is the true operation for deep punctured wounds. 
The operation becomes more serious if there is separation, 
partial or total, of the sole or frog, with a more or less advanced 
disorganization of the tissues underneath. If there is escape of 
purulent synovia, extensive cuttings are to be made. 
In olden times, to perform the operation of the deep punc¬ 
tured wound, the entire removal of the sole was performed, with¬ 
out distinction or exception, and, notwithstanding the severe pains 
following it. In our days a portion of separated sole or frog 
only is taken off. This is done by slices and only so far as neces¬ 
sary for the other steps of the operation. 
This operation is indicated when there is great pain, contin¬ 
uing without regard to what treatment has been followed. It is 
also when the plantar aponeurosis has assumed a greenish tint, 
diffused in its extent, without indication of a repairing process, 
with the marks of sloughing of the dead structure. The instru¬ 
ments required are various : sage knives, single and double ; draw¬ 
ing knives of various sizes ; a directory, bistouries and forceps. 
The animal, properly secured, and placed under anaesthetics, 
if too irritable, (Bouley), the horny structures are removed 
wherever the suppuration has separated them from the soft tis¬ 
sues beneath, or the sole is only pared down thin, as well as the 
horny frog in its whole extent. 
This first step of the operation completed, the operator intro¬ 
duces a directory into the whole tract of the fistula, and with 
a sharp sage knife a longitudinal incision is made, following the 
canulae of the directory as a guide, above and below the fistulous 
opening, and in the direction of the antero-posterior axis of the 
foot. This done, with the sage knife held in full hand, with one 
cut the surgeon, by a deep incision, removes the greatest thick- 
