374 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
coronet may be followed by such deficient secretion of horn at that place, 
that the weakened part may give way and sand-crack take place. 
if possible, the animal should be given entire freedom from work, and 
should be turned into a small paddock, or have a loose box, in which he 
may move somewhat. He should have nutritious food, and sufficient 
green food or bran mash to keep his bowels free. During the early 
stages of the disease, and while efforts are being made to restore the 
soundness of the foot, the horse is better without shoes, as the natural 
movements of the parts tend to restore their vitality. The bar-shoes, 
recommended by some writers, are useful only in those cases of long 
standing which are essentially incurable, and where the horses are to be 
putto slow work. The part should be interfered with as little as possible ; 
there should be no cutting, paring, or burning; and care should be taken 
to keep dirt, gravel, &c., from the open sore. The healthy condition of 
the open and granulating surface should be maintained by frequent 
washing with soap and water, and the application of the solution of 
chloride of zinc, (three grains to the ounce of water.) If the animal is 
in use, before being taken out the crack should be filled with lint satu- 
rated with the solution, which should be confined in place by a strip or 
cloth completely covered with tar. This should be removed as soon as 
the horse returns, and the wound be cleansed, if it is at all foul, and 
carefully dressed again. If treatment is commenced early, a fair degree 
of expectation of recovery may be entertained; but, in many cases, 
through neglect or lack of proper treatment, a permanent deficiency 
of the hoof remains. In such cases, by the use of a bar-shoe, properly 
adjusted, the animal may be made of some use. 
Contraction of the horn of the foot is a frequent cause of lameness. 
This may occur at some part of the coronary border, or may be in the 
quarters, or may be confined to the heels; the last being, perhaps, its 
most frequent locality. Contraction at the cornorary border produces 
lameness mainly by pressure on the extensor tendon. Movement pro- 
duces irritation dnd consequent pain, which is shown when the animal 
is at rest by his putting the foot forward. This position relieves 
the pressure upon the tendon, and gives partial relief from pain. Con- 
traction at the quarters and heels may not always cause lameness. If 
the condition comes on very gradually, changes of the contained parts 
may so accompany it that little if any lameness will be eaused simply 
by the contraction. Again, the contraction may be the consequence of 
other disease, and the result of a partial cure and a previous lameness 
lessened. Contraction may result from cbronic founder or fever of 
the feet. It may be produced by long-continued stabling upon a dry 
plank floor. Thrushes may so demoralize the floor of the foot as to 
cause contraction. Too great and constant paring away the bars of the 
foot may destroy their. resistance to the approach of the heels, so the 
paring of the frog may destroy the function of that organ as an 
elastic spring to keep the heels open. The degree of lameness that 
follows the change of form produced by these causes is not so great 
as when it results from inflammation of the elastic portions of the 
foot. ‘The changes are more rapid, and pressure is made upon the sens- 
itive portions of the foot. The horse indicates the amount of pain he 
suffers by the peculiar short and quick character of his step, and the 
gentle. and light manner in which he places his feet upon the ground. 
When not in motion, he rests his feet forward, and is continually chang- 
ing them. Contraction is apt to be seen most frequently in bighly bred 
horses with a naturally high and narrow foot. This is one of the causes 
of Jameness in which the advice and probably the treatment of an edu- 
