404 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Symptoms. — In contraction of the heels the foot has lost its circular 

 shape, and the walls from the quarters backward approach to a 

 straight line. The ground surface of the foot is now smaller than the 

 coronary circumference; the frog is pinched between the inclosing 

 heels, is much shrunken, and at times is affected with thrush. The 

 sole is more concave than natural, the heels are higher, and the bars 

 are long and nearly perpendicular. The whole hoof is dry, and so 

 hard that it can scarcely be cut ; the parts toward the heels are scaly 

 and often ridged like the horns of a ram, while fissures, more or less 

 deep, may be seen at the quarters and heels following the direction 

 of the horn fibers. (Plate XXXIII, fig. 10.) When the disease is 

 well advanced, lameness is present, while in the earlier stages there is 

 only an uneasiness evinced by frequent shifting of the affected foot. 

 Stumbling is common, esj^ecially on hard or rough roads. In most 

 cases the animal comes out of the stable stiff and inclined to walk on 

 the toe, but after exercise he may go free again. He wears his shoes 

 off at the toe in a short time, no matter whether he works or remains 

 in the stable. If the shoe is removed and the foot pared in old cases, 

 a dry, mealy horn will be found where the sole and wall unite, ex- 

 tending upward in a narrow line toward the quarters. 



Treatment. — First of all, the preventive measures must be consid- 

 ered. The feet are to be kept moist and the horn from drying out by 

 the use of damp sawdust or other bedding; by occasional poultices of 

 boiled turnips, linseed meal, etc., and greasy hoof ointments to the 

 sole and Avails of the feet. The wall of the foot should be spared 

 from the abuse of the rasp; the frog, heels, and bars are not to be 

 mutilated with the knife, nor should calks be used on the shoe except 

 when absolutely necessary. The shoes should be reset at least once 

 a month, to prevent the feet from becoming too long, and daily exer- 

 cise nnist be insisted on. 



As to curative measures, a diversity of opinion exists. A number 

 of kinds of special shoes have been invented, having for an object the 

 spreading of the heels, and perhaps any of these, if properlv used, 

 would eventually effect the desired result. But a serious objection 

 to most of these shoes is that they are expensive and often difficult to 

 make and apply. The method of treatment which I have adopted is 

 not only attended with good results, but is inexpensive, if the loss of 

 the patient's services for a time is not considered a part of the ques- 

 tion. It consists, first, in the use of poultices or baths of cold water 

 until the horn is thoroughly softened. The foot is now prepared for 

 the shoe in the usual way, except that the heels are lowered a little, 

 and the frog remains untouched. A shoe, called a " tip," is made by 

 cutting off both branches at the center of the foot and drawing the 

 ends down to an edge. The tapering of the branches should begin at 

 the toe, and the shoe should be of the usual width, with both the upper 



