Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-08-15
Hoof Disease-Foul in the Foot.

case the the ANIMALS have what Is
generally called "foul in the foot"
With cattle the irritation generally
makes it's appearance in the cleft of
the foot, the skin is broken and mat
ter discharged from il this, howev-
er, is soon followed by fungoid gran
uiations, or proud flesh As the ir>
ritation proceeds and spreads over
| other parts Of the foot, there is con-
siderable swelling of the pastern and
fetlock joints. Sinues form around |
the coronet and matter is discharg
ed, sometimes a bleeding fungus
makes its appearance. Of this dis
ease Veterinary writer in the Can.
ada Farmer says :-"When infam-
nation attacks any part Of the body
IT must necessarily have termina-
ton, and it terminates in various
ways. When ending without alter
ing the structure or functions Of a
part, the process is called resolution
when it runs on to the formation of |
yellowish matter, it is known as sup |
puration. Inflammation of the parts
under consideration frequently ter
inmates in suppuratIon and when
matter forms in any part of the body
where it cannot freely escape it is
attended with great pain, and par>
ticularly when forming in the foot,
covered as that is by the hard and
resisting horn, the pain is increased |
ten-fold. Unless relieved by an ar !
tifcial opening, the suppuration
gradually extends, and breaks out |
around the head of the hoof 1t may
also proceed inward, causing such an
amount of irritation as to effect the
bony structures, and if continued,
resulting in the separation Of the
sensitive and insensitive parts, either
partially or completely, so that the
hoof or horny covering falls off
"Irritation and suffering usually
produce we'll marked symptoms
There is lameness, the animal walk
ing with difficulty, and when stand>
ing occasionally moving his feet in
a manner indicative of pain A
swelling appears around the coroner,
and extends upwards TO the fetlock,
the lameness and swelling increas.
ing The unnatural prominence be-
comes soft and fluctuating, the hair
comes off, and if the imprisoned mat.
ter is not artficially liberated by
free vent, it will produce liberation
Of the skin, forming an opening COM
munlcating with sinus or pipe with
in, and the upper part Of the hoof
becomes separated from its connec.
tions underneath
"ln many cases the swelling is
not confsed to tho region of the
coroner, but involves the upper
joints, the irritation being extreme,
finally leading to extensive slough.
ing and exposing to view the ten
dons and ligaments. Such severe
pain and suffering must necessarily
affect the system generally.
"The symptoms enumerated vary
in degree according to the intensity
Of the attack and the extent of the
tissues involved.
"The causes of disease of the feet
are numerous and varied. The foot
Of the COW, from its peculiar form, is
especially liable to tho Judgement Of |
foreign bodies within the cleft, to
punctures from nails or other sharp |
substances, and to bruises from stones
or from irregularities in the surface
OF the ground during frosty weather.
But perhaps the most common cause,
and one which produces the most la
veterate form Of disease, Is the inju-
rious effects arising from wet and
dirt, common % some slraw-yarls
aud other bw-lyine localities, o.
consequent on being housed in badly |
drained aud i'll ventilated barns -
The obnoxious gases continually |
generated from the decomposition of
animal matter are also the prolific
source OF many disorders"
These diseases all have peculiar
symptoms and treatment. From the
brief description given in the inquiry,
we are not able te say definitely
what the trouble il, but praoably it
is foul in the foot, caused by stand
ing in filth or feeding in wet pastures,
" hNAhb1 WIZ AANOAl Aht AhtlOAibA5 VI bAG l.
foot are INSTRUCTED. Without discus
sing further the nature of the dis
ease, we give the rational treatment
in such cases 1 TO parts should be
ceansed by warm water and soap
Give the following at a dose; Flow
or Of sulphor, halt an ounce powder
cd sassalras bark, one ounce bur-
dock, two ounces; steep in one quart
of boiling water. Cool and strain
Poulticc the foot with the following:
Roots Of marsh mallows, bruised,
half a pound powdered charcoal, a
handful; powdered lobelia, four or
five ounces, and tca>cup full of
meal, with boiling water sufficient to
soften the mass. As soon as the exo
cess of morbid material is liberated,
remove the poulticc. Ia case an Of
iensve smell remains, wet the parts
with wash Of two ounces of Pyro-
lgneous acid in pint Of water
Cleanliness is indispensable in effect
ing cure.