’After all disease has been excised, carefully clean the foot with waste, thoroughly protect any raw surface resulting from overcauterization by some mild agent, such as a saturated calomel ointment, reapply an astringent dressing over the whole affected surface, and nail on the shoe.  This method of procedure should now be thoroughly carried out daily for a time, and as it is proceeded with a successful issue soon becomes assured in nearly every case.  Where, in spite of these efforts, the disease still persists, depend upon it the fault is with the operator, who has failed to eradicate some centre of infection.  Under these circumstances it may be necessary to recast the patient, repare the foot, and by the aid of eye, knife, and cautery, endeavour to find the cause, and having found it, which can invariably be done, remove it.  The usual treatment will then speedily become successful.  As the case proceeds dressing every other day will soon be sufficient, then twice a week, and finally, once a week until sufficiently cured.

’During this healing process, and after the complete eradication of canker it may be again repeated, no agent seems to have a more beneficial effect than calomel, and for this purpose it is best used as a dry powder.  Under this dressing any remaining spot of canker is readily detected by the wet condition of the calomel when the shoe is removed the next day.  In dealing with such a spot, a very good plan, after all apparently diseased tissue has been excised, is to touch the cankered part with solid nitrate of silver, or a feather dipped in one of the strong mineral acids, and then reapply calomel over the surface.  The result of this treatment is frequently very gratifying.

’In successful treatment the shoe must be removed each time—­an adjustable plate will not do, as no man can thoroughly pare and examine a foot with the shoe on, and imperfect dressings are worse than useless.  Indeed, it is better not to pare or thin the horn at all, than to imperfectly pare, since canker, if undestroyed, develops far more rapidly under thin horn than under thick.

’In conclusion, I would again urge the necessity, at the very first operation, when the horse is down, of removing every single particle of the diseased tissue, either by excision or effectual cauterization, but at the same time taking very great care to guard against the latter being too destructive.  The cautery should be laid aside as soon as the tissue cauterized ceases to burn white.  The moment at which the canker has thus been eradicated without destroying sound tissue is indicated by the appearance of healthy horn, by the intimate union of that with the secreting surface, and by the healthy aspect of the exuded blood when paring has been carried to the quick.