CANKER IN HORSES

Shannon News, 5 April 1927, Page 1

CANKER IN HORSES

TROUBLESOME COMPLAINT. SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT. A disease closely allied to grease, and indeed quite frequently associated with it, is that affecting the ' hornsecreting structures of the foot, and commonly known as canker «* The disease is one which, if neglected or at all extensive, is even more untractable than grease. It is not, perhaps, strictly accurate to define this trouble as one of constitutional origin, seeing that local infection undoubtedly plays its part in causing it. Nevertheless it is a fact that it mainly occurs in heavy horses, with big feet, coarse hair, and possessed of the lymphatic temperament. The symptoms of canker are seldom noticeable at the commencement of an attack, the disease being slow in progress and for a time confining its activities to the tissues beneath the horn of the frog. It is therefore not observed until much damage has been done and the disease is far advanced. Usually the first sign noticed is a softening condition of the frog, and an exceedingly offensive discharge. Under this softened and disorganised horn is found a fungoid mass of decayed horn and tissue which can be removed by scraping, leaving the reddened healthy tissue beneath. The surrounding horn, too, is seen to be separated from the sensitive structures and to be under-run with discharge, and the disease is found to be far more extensive than was at first apparent.. The degree of lameness is variable, at times only slight, at others very severe, and rendering work, or even ability to bear weight on the affected foot, an impossibility. The key to success in the treatment of canker is the nemoval of all the loose and under-run horn, and the absolute exposure of all the diseased tissues.- ._-.„____„-;. _ „ .„ This must be patiently persisted in, paring away as much aspossiblo as the case admits of, and repeating as it becomen necessary. Fungoid and decayed tissues (says "Vet." in Parmer and Stock Breeder) should be scraped or otherwise removed and the healthy tissues exposed, and the affected area intensively disinfected, first by flooding with tincture of iodine, or iodoform dissolved in ether, and then by dressing with tow soaked in Stockholm tar, to which 18 graine of ui-eiorlde of mecury to the pint have been added.

The tow sliould be packed in firmly and retained in place by a piece of sheet iron cut ot the shape of the root and sprung under the web of the shoe and the dressings etc. repeated daily for the first few days and then at longer intervals as the cas e improves. Internally, arsenic should be administered.. This is conveniently done by mixing an ounce of the liquor arsenici hydrochlor in the food daily, gradually increasing it to three times this amount, and then reducing by degrees until the case allows of discontinuing it entirely.