STUD BOOK. 129 



comes narrowed, and consequently elongated. This change 

 of form is accompanied by considerable pain; the action of 

 the horse is altered; there is a shortened tread, and a hesi- 

 tating way of putting the foot to the ground. 



The frog and heel would expand when the weight of the 

 horse descends and is thrown upon them, but the nailing oi 

 the shoe at the heels prevents it Thence the pain and lame- 

 ness is obviated by a very simple method, put four or five 

 nails in the shoe on the outside, and only two on the inside. 

 There is then sufficient room for the natural expansion to 

 take place, and the foot and action of the horse are little or 

 not at all changed. This is an admirable contrivance, and 

 recourse should always be had to it. 



The Navicular Joint Disease. 



There are many horses with open and well-formed feet that 

 are lame. In every motion of the foot, there is a great deal 

 of action between the navicular bone and the flexor tendon 

 which passes over it, in order to be inserted into the navicu- 

 lar bone. From concussion or violent motion, the membrane 

 or the cartilage which covers the navicular bone is bruised or 

 abraded, the horse becomes lame, and often continues so for 

 life. This disease admits of remedy to a very considerable 

 extent; no one, however, but a skillful veterinary surgeon is 

 capable of successfully undertaking it 



Sand-crack 



is a division of the crust of the hoof from the upper part of 

 it downward. It bespeaks brittleness of the foot, and often 

 arises from a single false step. If the crack has not pene- 

 trated through the horn, it must, nevertheless, be pared fairly 

 out, and generally a coating of pitch should be bound round 

 the foot If the crack has reached the quick, that must be 

 done which ought to be done in every case a skillful surgeon 

 should be consulted, otherwise false quarter may ensue. 



False Quarter 



is a division of the ligament by which the crust is secreted. 

 It is one of the varieties of sand-crack, and exceedingly diffi- 

 cult of cure. 



Tread, or Over-reach., 



is a clumsy habit of setting one foot upon or bruising the 



