DISEASES AFFECTING FEET 



fore feet are affected. The whole limb has a shrunken look 

 about it if the disease is fairly advanced. 



Although the foregoing signs are, in the main, char- 

 acteristic of navicular disease, one or more of these may be 

 present in other forms of lameness, such as that arising from 

 sprain of the ligaments of the coronet joint ; also contracted 

 feet and fetlock joint lameness. It is distinguished from the 

 first mentioned with difficulty. Perhaps there is pain and a 

 little thickening on the back of the coronet joint. From fetlock 

 joint lameness it is distinguishable by the fact that flexion of 

 this joint causes pain, and there may be heat, swelling, or 

 knuckling over through tendon shortening. This disease when 

 once established is incurable. The most important matter to 

 attend to is the shoeing. Keep the toe short and heel rather 

 long. Neurectomy is resorted to in some cases. It destroys 

 the sensation in the foot. 



CORNS. 



These are commonly found in the inner heels of the fore 

 feet. The weaker the horn at the heels, the greater the liability 

 to corns. High action plays its part. Horses with narrow 

 feet, contracted heels, weak fetlocks, or feet wide apart are pre- 

 disposed to suffer in this way. The immediate cause is a bruise 

 to the sensitive structures within the hoof, and upon the lower 

 surface of the coflin bone, causing the rupture of a minute blood 

 vessel. It is unsoundness. 



Symptoms. — li recent, a red spot will be found, usually on 

 the inside heel. Soon, however, this blood mark changes to 

 brown or brick red, then yellowish black, and hnally black. 

 This latter shows that the corn has been done some little time, 



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