566 



DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



Colts in the stable can not wear down their hoofs, so that every 

 four to six weeks they should be rasped down and the lower edge 

 of the wall well rounded to prevent chipping. The soles and clefts 

 of the frog shoidd be picked out every few days and the entire hoof 

 washed clean. Plenty of clean straw litter should be provided. 

 Hoofs that are becoming " awry " should have the wall shortened 

 in such a manner as to straighten the foot-axis. This will ultimately 

 produce a good hoof and will improve the position of the limb. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEALTHY HOOF. 



A healthy hoof (figs. 1 and 8) is equally warm at all parts, and is 

 not tender under pressure with the hands or moderate compression 



with pincers. The coronet is 

 soft and elastic at all points 

 and does not project beyond 

 the surface of the wall. The 

 wall (fig. 8) is straight from 

 coronet to ground, so that a 

 straightedge laid against the 

 wall from coronet to ground 

 parallel to the direction of 

 the horn tubes will touch at 

 everj-^ point. The wall should 

 be covered with the outer 

 varnishlike laj'er (periople) 

 and should show no cracks or 

 clefts. Every hoof shows 

 " ring - formation," but the 

 rings should not be strongly 

 marked and should always 

 run parallel to the coronary 

 band. Strongly marked ring- 

 formation over the entire wall 

 is an evidence of a weak hoof, 

 but when limited to a part 

 of the wall is evidence of previous local inflammation. The bulbs 

 of the heels should be full, rounded, and of equal height. The sole 

 (fig. 1) should be well hollowed out, the white line solid, the frog 

 well developed, the middle cleft of the frog broad and shallow, the 

 spaces between the bars and the frog wide and shallow, the bars 

 straight from the buttresses toward the point of the frog, and the 

 buttresses themselves so far apart as not to press against the branches 

 of the frog. A hoof can not be considered healthy if it presents 

 reddish discolored horn, cracks in the wall, white line, bars, or frog, 

 thrush of the frog, contraction or displacement of the heels. The 

 lateral cartilages should yield readily to finger pressure. 



Fig. 1. — Ground surface of aright fore hoof of the regu^ 

 lar form: a, a, wall; a-a, the toe; a-b, the side walls! 

 b-d, the quarters; c, c, the bars; <7, d, the buttresses] 

 e, lateral cleft of the frog;/, bod j' of the sole; g, g',g" 

 leafy layer (white line) of the toe and bars; h, body 

 of the frog; i, i, branches of the frog; k, k, horny bulbs 

 of the heels; I, middle cleft of the frog. 



