158 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



ossification of the cartilages has taken place. Dur- 

 ing the transformation of the cartilage into bone, in 

 horses with full-sized open feet no visible inflamma- 

 tion is observable in the foot, nor does much lame- 

 ness appear, and, indeed, frequently lameness is not 

 at all manifested, although a slight stiffness may be 

 noticed ; but in horses with small donkey-formed feet, 

 there is generally marked lameness and a proneness 

 for the lameness to become more or less permanent. 

 These observations apply to cart-horses, or such 

 as require only to be worked at a slow pace ; but 

 in horses that go at a rapid pace, it amounts to posi- 

 tive lameness. When this complaint is connected 

 with ring-bone, very great lameness is the conse- 

 quence. 



REMEDIES. -- If there is no lameness, have re- 

 course to no treatment, as the conversion of cartilage 

 to bone cannot be arrested. On the contrary, if 

 the animal is lame and suffering much pain, a blister 

 of cantharides may hasten on the ossific process, 

 and thereby lessen the pain. The shape and size 

 of the foot has much to do with the pain and lame- 

 ness, and a horse with side bones and small feet is a 

 much more risky purchase than one with good open 

 feet. 



WEAKNESS OF THE FOOT. 



This is merely a conventional term in general 

 use among horsemen and dealers, which might with 

 more propriety be denominated " malformation of 

 the foot," because, in point of fact, it is rather a 

 bad formation than a disease. In many instances 

 it is a natural infirmity, and likewise proceeds from 

 some other disease. The natural slant or angle of 

 the well-formed crust from the coronet to the toe is 



