92 MANUAL FOR ARMY HORSESHOERS. 



Symptoms. — The fool, instead of being wide at the quarters 

 and circular in shape, becomes narrow at the heels, which in very 

 bad cases may overlap, the frog atrophies and is frequently affected 

 with thrush. Lameness may be present as a result of the pinching 

 of the sensitive structures by the walls of the hoof. 



Treatment. — Frog pressure is essential. If the feet are ex- 

 tremely dry and hard they may be softened by standing the animal 

 in moist clay or in water. If the animal is to be used on soft ground 

 let him go barefoot, or shoe with the tip (PL XX, fig. 6); otherwise 

 use the bar shoe with leather pad, tar, and oakum, packing the 

 oakum very tight under the frog. 



DRY FEET. 



91. This is a troublesome condition, occurring most frequently in 

 dry weather. 



Causes. — The moisture of the foot normally comes from the blood, 

 and depends largely upon the circulation, and a certain amount of 

 it comes by absorption from the ground. Shoeing, by raising the 

 frog from the ground, lessens the circulation and interferes with 

 absorption of moisture from the ground . Sudden changes in weather, 

 alternation from wet to dry, and soaking the feet in water cause a 

 maceration of the perioplic covering and facilitate the evaporation 

 of moisture from the wall. Working in sandy ground wears away 

 the periople and facilitates evaporation, and rasping the periople 

 produces the same condition. 



Symptoms. — A hard, dry, and inelastic condition of the horn. 

 This increases concussion and frequently causes inflammation of the 

 foot corium and produces lameness. 



Treatment. — Soften the feet by poultices or by foot baths and 

 then apply an oily covering to the wall surface; or pack the cavity 

 between the branches of the shoe with wet clay two or three times a 

 week. This is preferable to soaking in water as it supplies moisture 

 to the foot and does not macerate the periople. Work the animal 

 on soft ground as much as possible. 



An excellent dressing for dry. brittle, or contracted feet is made of 

 the following: 



Creolin 4 ounces. 



Pine tar 4 ounces. 



Raw linseed oil 1'4 ounces. 



