558 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Briefly reviewing tlie anatomy of this part, it will be found to consist 

 of a framework made up of three bones: the lower portion of the short 

 pastern bone, the navicular bone and the coffin bone. These bones are 

 united in such a manner as to form a joint, the navicular joint. At the 

 upper and back portion of the coflBn bone and on each side are the lateral 

 cartilages, half-moon shaped pieces of gristle extending upwards above 

 the wall, and backwards towards the heels. Occupying the entire space 

 behind and between the wings of the coffin bone is the plantar cushion. 

 This structure acts much as does a rubber heel on a shoe. Over all is 

 drawn a specialized skin, covering all of the parts much as a sock covers 

 the foot. The skin, according to the character of the horn which it 

 secretes, may be divided into five regions, the periople, which secretes 

 coronary hand, which secretes the middle layer of the wall; the sensi- 

 the thin varnish-like layer covering the outer surface of the wall; the 

 tive laminae, which secretes the inner layer of the wall and bind the wall 

 lo the foot; the sensitive sole, which secretes the sorn sole; and the 

 sensitive frog, which secretes the horn frog. In addition, the foot is 

 richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. 



Even slight injuries to the foot, on account of the character of the 

 offending body f*s well as to the fact that the foot is constantly in con- 

 tact with dirt and fllth, are almost universally accompanied by pus forma- 

 tion. The pus being imprisoned by the firm horn, presses upon the 

 sensitive structures within, causing exquisite pain, and lacking free out- 

 let, it burrows its way under the horn, separating it from the skin which 

 secretes it, i. e., the horn becomes "under-run." The charatcer of the 

 lameness thus produced varies somewhat with the portion of the toot 

 which is affected. In general there is a tendency to favor the foot in 

 standing, and as the foot is brought to the ground in walking or trotting 

 the horse distinctly avoids bringing weight to bear upon the wounded 

 portion. A careful examination of the foot with the hand, the hoof-testers 

 and the hoof-fenife verifies the suspicion. The old saying, "If a horse is 

 lame in his head, examine his foot," should be religiously held in mind. 

 The method of treatmg these cases is as follows: A twitch is placed 

 on the horse's nose, the foot is then thoroughly cleansed with soap and 

 water, after which the horn is freely cut away from around the affected 

 point until by the oozing of blood it is positive that all under-run portions 

 of the horn have been removed. The foot is now washed in a solution of 

 mercuric bichloride 1-500, a piece of absorbent cotton is saturated in a 

 solution of the same strength and applied so as to cover the wound; 

 another piece of cotton of sufficient size to cover the entire foot is then 

 soaked in the same soliation and firmly bandaged over the foot, allowing 

 a part of the cotton to extend above the bandage; a thick coating of tar , 

 is then applied over all. The tar serves to retain the bandage in place, 

 and, of more importance, prevents any germ-laden dirt or moisture from 

 reaching the wound. On account of the cotton extending above the 

 baodage it is an easy matter to pour a 1-500 solution of bichloride of mer- 

 cury into the top of the bandage and rely upon its reaching the entire foot. 

 Frequently this daily application of bichloride (1-500) is made by means 



