146 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



sole has been removed, it will take at least six 

 months to restore fully that which has been removed, 

 so that the horse may again be subjected to 

 labour. 



Ouittor often proceeds from neglecting bruises 

 and injuries of the sole of the foot. When horses 

 have flat feet, and are ridden quickly over a rough, 

 uneven, stony road, the feet are very liable to be 

 injured, and especially by getting a small stone 

 between the shoe and the sole. Narrow webbed 

 shoes are frequently the cause of bruises of the feet, 

 by leaving too much of the sole unprotected. Another 

 cause is, the smith paring out the sole too closely, 

 or pricking the sole while in the act of shoeing, as 

 also pressure of the shoe on the sole, and gravel 

 getting insinuated between the sole and the shoe. 



PRICK, OR WOUND IN THE SOLE OR CRUST. 



The sole is peculiarly liable to be injured by sharp- 

 pointed stones, flints, and pieces of glass which it 

 may come in contact with on a road. In shoeing, 

 too, a nail may be driven either into the sensitive 

 part of the foot, or so near to it in the horn, that it 

 will cause pressure and consequent irritation, prob- 

 ably inflammation, and this may end in suppuration. 

 In all cases of lameness, particularly in those which 

 are sudden, the legs should be examined with great 

 care ; and if no cause can be discovered to account 

 for it, the probability is that its seat is in the foot. 

 The shoe ought to be immediately removed, when 

 very likely the cause will be ascertained. But if 

 it is not at once apparent by the heat of some portion 

 of the foot, then the crust should be rapped all 

 round with a small hammer, and when the part 

 which is affected is touched, the horse is sure to 



