INJURIES TO THE: FEET. 549 
speedy cutter there is always apparent a small scab or bruise on the inside 
of the cannon bone, immediately below the knee ; but in slight cases rest 
may have been used to allow the skin to heal, and then no mark may 
possibly be left. A careful examination will, however, generally detect a 
small bare place, partially concealed by the growth of the adjacent hair. 
In bad cases the periosteum is swollen, and there is a considerable 
enlargement of the surface of the bone. In the management of slight 
cases of this kind of cutting, the action should be examined while the 
hoof is covered with chalk, and the latter should be treated in the same 
way as already described. If, however, this fails, as it generally does in 
this form of cutting, there is no remedy but to put on a regular speedy- 
cut boot, in which there is a pad buckled on the inside of the leg, and 
reaching from the knee to the fetlock. It must be of this length, because 
otherwise it cannot be kept in its place, as the leg allows it to slip down 
until it reaches the larger circumference presented by the joint. Where 
there is pain and swelling, caused by the contusion, it must be treated in 
the ordinary way, by the application of cold water and tincture of arnica, 
a wine-glassful of the latter in two quarts of water. 
PRICKS IN SHOEING occur from the want of skill in the smith, who 
drives the nail too near the lamine, and sometimes even absolutely wounds 
them. It may be that the nail in its passage upwards is not within an 
eighth of an inch of these delicate parts, and the horse may not have 
flinched during the driving of it, but when he is put to work the nail 
opposes a hard unyielding line to the soft parts, inflammation is established, 
and possibly even matter is formed which may end in quittor. When, 
on the day after shoeing, a horse which was previously sound goes lame, 
and the foot is hot to the touch, it may generally be assumed that a nail 
or nails have been driven too near to the quick, unless there is evidence 
of laminitis from other causes. On tapping the crust with a hammer, 
the horse will flinch at some particular spot, and there is the nail which 
is in fault. Sometimes there is little inflammation as yet set up, but the 
pressure of the nail is sufficient to cause lameness, and in either case the 
shoe should be taken off. Then, if there is reason to suppose that matter 
has formed, the opening from which the nail came out should be enlarged, 
and the matter allowed to escape. If, however, the foot has been merely 
“bound,” it may be either left to nature, with a shoe lightly tacked on, 
and a wet “swab” round the coronet, or it may be placed in a bran 
poultice, which is the safest plan. 
WHEN A NAIL IS PICKED UP ON THE ROAD, the prognosis will depend 
upon the part which it has penetrated. If it has entered deeply into the 
toe of the frog, the probability is that the navicular joint has been wounded, 
or probably the tendon of the flexor at its insertion into the pedal bone, 
either of which are very serious accidents. If the wound is further back, 
there is less risk of permanent injury, as the bulbous heels or cushion of 
the frog will bear a considerable amount of injury without permanent 
mischief, In any case the treatment should consist in cutting away the 
horn round the opening, so as to allow of a free escape of matter if it 
forms. At the same time inflammation should be kept under by cola 
“swabs” to the coronet, or by putting the whole foot into a bran 
poultice. 
Over-REACHES, when slight, may be treated by the application of 
friar’s balsam, or tincture of arnica in full strength, which will have a 
tendency to dry them up and prevent suppuration. If, however, the hee! 
is very much bruised, a poultice must be applied, but even then a little 
