416 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



uew calked shoes, aud leaving- shoes on too lojij^. Aud I have come 

 to the eouelusiou that thej vvei-e caused by the eoffiu bone being 

 thrown out of position to such an extent by throwing the lower 

 point up too much, causing the hind wings to break through the 

 tender issues at the heel. Also, when from any cause the heel 

 begins to contract, as the side walls begin to press in against the 

 wings of the coffin bone, the result is the same, the unnatural fric- 

 tion caused by the side pressure causes the bone to wear through 

 the tender tissues at the angles of the heels. 



Invisible corns may be detected by the use of the hoof feelers, by 

 pressing on the hoof about half way from the coronet band to the 

 bottom of the heel, if on a higher heeled hoof or about even with the 

 wings of the coffin bone, if the shoer is well enough acquainted with 

 the anatomy of llie foot to locate the bone in the various kinds of 

 feet he has to deal with. 



Treatment for the three different kinds of corns differ with me 

 very little. In the first place, I always try and find out what causes 

 the trouble. If it is caused by the heels being too high, I lower 

 them by paring properly at the heel; if the toes are too long and 

 high I pare the toe off so as to give the hoof the proper angle for 

 the kind of shaped hoof and leg that it may be, then cutting out the 

 angle between the bars so as to start the serum slightly, filling the 

 cavity with oakum and veterinary petroleum, giving the shoe as 

 level bearing as possible; and if the heels are contracted I fit the 

 shoe slightly convexing, so as to have a natural tendency to press 

 the heel open, not driving the nails very high in the hoof and using 

 as small nails as the work will permit. 



In the case of low heels or fiat-hoofed horses I use a narrow web 

 bar shoe, carefully fitting thera so as not to press too heavy on the 

 frog, equalizing the pressure on both heels and frog as much as 

 possible, dressing the outside of the hoof daily with veterinary petro- 

 leum from the coronet down and at night, or when not in use, filling 

 the bottom of the hoof with White Rock Hoof Packing to soften the 

 hoof, if any inflammation may exist. In all cases the shoes want 

 to be reset at least as often as once in four weeks so as to keep the 

 hoof in proper angle. 



NAVICULAR DISEASE. 



This disease is more common in high, straight hoofed horses than 

 in low, fiat feet. And there are many causes for it. One of the 

 most general causes is letting the foot grow out too long, throwing 

 the heel back too much, causing a constant strain on the heel cord 

 where it is locked to the navicular and coflin bone, causing a deep 

 seated inflammation at thf union of the joint. 



