— 819 — 



coarse powder, as it soon dissolves on ex])0sure to the air Lay it 

 upon the raw surface. This apply next day, if the first apjdication 

 has not removed sufficient or all of it. After the proud (lesii has 

 been entirely taken off, or levelled witli the sole proper, dress every 

 day with Barbadoes tar, one ])ound ; sulphuric acid, three drachms; 

 powdered sulphate of copper, half an ounce. Mix well, and spread 

 a portion over the sore foot, and over this dressing, a pad of tow or 

 cotton, held firmh^ down on the padding, so as to produce pressure, 

 an important matter in the treatment of Canker in the foot. This 

 can be secured by thin ])ieces of splint from young wood being 

 placed across one another over the pad, and the ends pushed in 

 between the foot and the shoe. By this means, and a little 

 patience, witli a little ingenuity in fixing and applying these pads, 

 etc., even very bad cases can he cured. 



(2.) Contraction. — This is not so much a disease as it is bad 

 management in the stal)le and in the blacksmith's shop. Contrac- 

 tion may be said to be an alteration of the shape and structure 

 of the posterior, or back portion of the hoof — a winding in of the 

 heels. 



Causes. "Want of proper knowledge on the part of the owner or 

 horseshoer in not knowing the difference between the foot that 

 would require a piece added to it at each shoeing, and the one that 

 requires a large portion taken from it, so as to insure elasticity 

 and expansion. A foot strong and inelastic, and unyielding to 

 the weight of the animal, is the very first foot to become contracted. 

 I know flat, weak-footed horses travelling sound for ten or fifteen 

 years without in the least being contracted. So long as w^e have 

 strong-hoofed horses, and shod with an inflexible iron ring to 

 prevent wear and tear, and the blacksmith neglects to take off of 

 each hoof at the shoeing as much horn as the horse w'ould have 

 worn if he had been in the natural state and not shod, we will have 

 contraction. 



Treatment. Cut down the hoof and shorten the toe, and make 

 the hard and inelastic foot one that will expand at its heels every 

 time the w^eiglit of the animal puts his foot to tlie ground. 



One-sided nailing is an excellent preventative as well as an as- 

 sistant in the cure of contracted feet. What is meant by one-sided 

 nailing is, that nails are to be confined to the outside toe of the 



