HORSE AND OX SHOEING. 303 



They arc generally caused by the shoe being worn too long. 

 The shell or wall of the hoof grows over the shoe, thus throwing 

 the weight in upon the sole. This produces a bruise. The 

 horny substance of which the sole is composed is secreted in 

 less quantity, the blood from the vessels which have been 

 ruptured mingles with the imperfectly secreted horny matter, 

 and as this process is going on it soon makes its appearance on 

 the outside. Corns should never be taken out deep, as thereby 

 the hoof is much weakened. Corns, though they do not often 

 produce lameness, are seldom if ever cured. Horses with corns 

 must be oftener and more carefully shod than those free from 

 them. 



Thrush is a discharge of offensive matter from the cleft of 

 the fifcg. When the frog loses its functions, either from foul 

 matter being collected and retained by the shoe, or from being 

 raised too far from the ground, or from contraction of the hoof, 

 pus is secreted with the horny substance, or instead of it. For 

 a cure, salt is sometimes used, or any astringent medicine. 

 But, first of all, remove the cause that produced the disease ; 

 otherwise it will become chronic, and perpetual lameness ensue. 



Wounds in the sole or crust, by nails or stones, produce 

 inflammation. In other words, when any substance is deposited 

 in the quick or fleshy plates, matter is speedily formed which 

 causes extreme pain. This matter being pent up will in a short 

 time work its way around for' some distance, and frequently 

 discharges itself at the top of the hoof before its location can 

 be discovered. In such cases take off the shoe, scrape the 

 bottom of the hoof all over, to find, if possible, the exact seat 

 of the trouble ; notice all the dark spots, and dig them out a 

 little with the point of a knife, and apply the pincers around 

 the edge of the hoof to detect the most tender place. When 

 the matter is found, it can be worked out at a small hole, either 

 with a crooked horse-nail or a pen-knife ; then fill up the 

 aperture with a little tarred rope or other soft substance. Do 

 not put in rosin, especially when the wound is on the sole, as 

 that, being a hard substance, often proves as uncomfortable 

 as a small stone. If a cure is not thus effected, probe the 

 wound out again till fresh blood is found ; but if this was done 

 in the first place, there will be little need of a second operation. 



