S June, 1907.] Lameness m Horses. 375 



In some cases of hind ringbone where the pasterns are very upright the 

 horse knuckles over at the fetlock at each step, and the toe is brought t'> 

 the ground first. 



Treatment. — In the earlv stages the object of treatment is to redm-e 

 the inflammatory activity and therefore rest should be enjoined. The 

 application of cold, l)\ means of frequently changed cold water bandages 

 or bv allowing water to drip from a hose bandaged in position, \\\\\ often 

 arrest the in.cipi-nt inflammation and prevent structural change or the 

 deposition of bone. The shoe should be taken off ami the heels rasi)ed 

 down if the foot is good ; if not a thin heeled shoe should be put on, or 

 a bar rocker shoe, if the frog is good. Many horses with high ringbone 

 will work sound for years with a thin-heeled shoe. 



Subse(}uent treatment will depend upon tlie persistence of the lameness. 

 If it passes awa\ after a blistering with red mercury ointment (.see page 77) 

 nothing further will be needed; but if it persists or recurs |X)int firing 

 (see page 66) should be carried out. Where the lameness proves intractable 

 to these measures i' can be overcome by performing the operation of neu- 

 rectomy (see page 68). This oj)eration, while always attended with certain 

 risks and drawbacks, gives T>?rhaps better results in this disease than in 

 any other. Of course it should never be attempted if the horse has weak 

 heels or soles or other condition of the font, such as corns, which may give 

 rise to suppuration or abscess formation. 



FOOT LAMENESS. 



Lameness of a more or less pronounced character is associated with 

 most of the diseases of the foot. Many of these diseases are however of 

 such great importance economically and of such distinctive character patho- 

 logicallv as to warrant extended consideration and it has therefore been 

 decided to deal with them in a chapter speciall)' devoted to diseases of 

 the foot. It will however be convenient and apposite to describe here 

 those general characteristics which are associated with Lameness in the foot 

 and also to consider in detail those diseases which are most commonly 

 associated with foot lameness (to wit, Sidebones, Corns, Laminitis, Vil- 

 litis and Navicular di-sease) and the meajis wherel)y they can be detected 

 and differentiated. For Thrush, Canker, Contracted heels, Sandcrack, 

 False quarter. Seedy toe. Keratoma, Pricks in shoeing, Quittor, and other 

 diseases in which the cause of lameness is obvious reference is directed to 

 the chapter on Diseases of the Foot which follows. 



Characteris'tics of Foot Lameness. 



In addition to the particular symptoms of each disease of the foot, 

 there are general signs which are characteristic of foot lameness. When 

 standing, the pain caused bv pressure of weight causes little or no weight 

 to be borne Ijy the lame foot and the pastern is kept more upright. The 

 lame foot is generally placed in advance of its fellow, that is, it is 

 '■ pointed "' and if both feet are affected they are advarced or pointed 

 alternatelv, except perhaps in laminitis when both are pushed forward. 

 During movement, the action is natural and free when the limb is raised, 

 there is no inabilitv to advance, straighten or bend the limb ; but imme- 

 diatelv the lame foot comes to the ground and has weight thrown upon it 

 there is great flinching, and an evident desire to get the sound foot to the 

 ground and the weight transferred on to it as quickly as pos.sible. In 



