DISEASES, DEFECTS, ETC. 81 



suffering tlie slioes to remain on too long, by the want of 

 natural moisture on account of the feet being kept too 

 dry, or by the removal of the bars, or by Thrushes (g), 

 which, however, are much oftener the consequence than 

 the cause of it. The Contraction, however, which is 

 connected with permanent lameness, though increased by 

 the circumstances just mentioned, usually derives its 

 origin from a cause which acts violently and suddenly, 

 namely, an inflammation of the little plates covering the 

 Coffin bone, and not sufiiciently intense to be charac- 

 terized as Acute founder {//). The contracted heel can 

 rarely or never permanently expand, as neither the 

 lengthened and narrowed Coffin bone can resume its 

 natural shape, nor can the portion of the frog which has 

 been absorbed be restored (/) . 



Contraction of the hoof, when produced by inflamma- When held to 

 tion, or accompanied by disease in the foot, or any ^^ unsoimd- 

 alteration in its natural structure, though it may not 

 cause lameness at the time of sale, yet, if lameness be 

 afterwards produced by it, is an Unsoundness. This was 

 held in the following case, which was tried before Chief 

 Baron Pollock : — It appeared that the plaintiff, who was 

 a Horsedealer, bought a Mare at Lincoln Fair, warranted 

 sound, for 37/. On her way up to town, she gradually 

 became dead lame on her off foreleg. She was brought 

 by easy stages to London, and examined by various 

 Yeterinary Surgeons, who at once asserted that her lame- 

 ness proceeded from a Contraction of the hoof of the off 

 forefoot, which might have existed, and probably did 

 exist, before sale, though the disease had not developed 

 itself in lameness, and that at all events there must have 

 been a strong predisposition to Unsoundness. The defen- 

 dant wrote a letter offering to take her back ; however, 

 it was miscarried, and the Mare was sold by auction for 

 251. An action was brought for the balance, and on this 

 evidence the Jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff (J). 



In the angle between the bars and the quarters, the Corns. 

 horn of the sole has sometimes a red appearance, and is 

 more spongy and soft than at any other part. The Horse 

 flinches when this portion of the horn is pressed upon, 

 and there is an occasional or permanent lameness. This 

 disease of the foot is termed Corns, bearing this resem- 



(g) Thrush, post. 292. 



{h) Founder, post. (J) Greemvay v. Ilarshall, Ex. 



(i) Lib. U. K. "The Horse," Sittings, Dec. 9, 1845. 

 O. G 



