384 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



with some heat and tenderness to pressure over the affected surface. Lame- 

 ness may or may not exist at first; but where the disease continues to 

 extend, and the swelhng becomes considerable, the foot is brought to the 

 ground with the bearing thrown upon the heel, as in laminitis, and lame- 

 ness is pronounced. The horn in front of the coronet, instead of being 

 smooth, now presents a rough and broken appearance. It is loose in 

 texture, and ffaky masses may be broken away with the finger. The crust 

 at this point has a tendency to develop a ring-like character, to crack 

 cross-ways, and to separate from its connection with the coronary cushion. 

 Wlien this takes place there is a slight oozing of serosity, and blood and 

 matter may also be discharged. 



Treatment. — It is usually the case that no attention is given to 

 this disease in its primary stage, and it is not until considerable swelling 

 appears at the coronet and serious changes have taken place in the horn 

 that any notice is taken of it. 



All injuries to this region, however slight, should receive prompt atten- 

 tion. A day or two in the stable, with cold, wet swabs to the part and 

 a mild dose of physic, may be the means of preventing the injury from 

 assuming a chronic character. Where this has already become established 

 the toe should be shortened, the heel of the foot lowered, and the heels 

 of the shoe thinned from the quarters backward. The object of this is 

 to take the bearing from the front of the foot and relieve the affected part. 

 A mild counter-irritant may then be applied to the coronet every three 

 or four days, but no attempt should be made to blister, nor should an 

 irritant of any kind be employed if there is oozing or discharge from 

 the junction of horn and hair. Moderate pressure to the enlarged coronet 

 is attended with Ijenefit in some cases. This may be applied by means 

 of tea-lead folded in such a way as to bear equally upon it, and fixed 

 by means of a bandage. 



The patient may be turned into a wet pasture wearing the lead com- 

 press, after a course of counter-irritation to the coronet. 



If there is oozing from the injured coronet the horse should be confined 

 to a loose-box, and after the wound has been thoroughly cleansed with 

 warm carbolized water it should be freely dusted over with iodoform and 

 covered with a pad of cotton-wool. This, secured by a bandage, will serve 

 to keep the dirt out and encourage healing. 



When again put to work, care should be taken to keep the heel down 

 and the toe short, so that as little bearing as possible be made to fall in 

 front of the foot. 



Although an animal suffering from this affection may by judicious 

 treatment be kept in work for some time, the liability of the hoof to crack 



