[Footnote A:  The words in italics are alterations in the original article made by Mr. Malcolm in a private letter to the author (H.C.K.).]

’Having by means of the knife and cautery removed every known particle of disease, the next procedure is to pack the surface of the sole and frog thus exposed with a mild dressing, such as vaseline; but if the cankered surface has not been efficiently, scraped, than there is required a more [A] powerful astringent or caustic dressing, which may vary considerably according to the individual fancy.  A great favourite of mine consists of equal parts of sulphates of copper, iron, and zinc, mixed with strong carbolic acid, a very little vaseline being added to give the mass cohesion.  The dressing, covered by a pledget of tow, is held in position by a shoe with an iron or leather sole, and the dressing and tow together should be of sufficient bulk to produce slight pressure on the sole when the nails of the shoe are drawn up.  This insures contact between the dressing and the exposed surface, as well as any benefit derivable from pressure.

[Footnote A:  The words in italics are alterations in the original article made by Mr. Malcolm in a private letter to the author (H.C.E.).]

’The dressing of the foot and nailing of the shoe can usually be more expeditiously performed when the horse is on his feet than when prone.  If only the frog, or the frog and a small part of the sole, be involved, the horse should be kept at work, but if a large part or the whole of the sole a few days’ rest may be necessary; but as soon as the condition of the foot will allow, work should be resumed, and it is simply marvellous how sound a horse will walk while minus the greater part of his sole from canker.

’On the second day following the shoe should be removed, and the foot redressed.  To effect this it is necessary to recast the horse.  Commencing at the edge of the sound horn, at the most dependent part of the foot, all new horn, no matter what its condition, must be pared to the quick, especial care being taken to effectually remove any lingering disease.  Want of success is frequently attributable to neglect of this precaution.  A small particle of canker remains undetected, forms a new centre of infection, and just when success is anticipated, much to your chagrin you have to deal with a fresh outbreak of canker, instead of a rapidly-healing foot.  Parenthetically, I may here remark that the amount of more or less imperfect new horn produced by a cankered surface after an effective but not too destructive cauterization is almost incredible, and one cannot fail to be struck with the very active proliferation here compared with the meagre production of new horn by the healthy surface.