TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 485 



by improper shoeing, in which the toe is made too long and the 

 heel too low, thus producing inflammation and retraction of 

 the tendons. Lastly, it is caused by disease of the suspensory 

 ligament or of the flexor tendons, whereby they are shortened, 

 and by disease of the fetlock joint. It is one of the worst faults 

 a horse can possess, and it greatly affects the value and the price. 

 Treatment varies depending on the cause of the trouble. Relief 

 may be secured by so shoeing as to shorten the toe and elevate 

 the heels, thus relieving the tendons. In extreme cases, the 

 tendons may be operated on to secure relief. Firing and blister- 

 ing effect a cure in some instances. 



Contracted feet. Contraction of the feet is not a diseased 

 condition in itself, but is a symptom of such and leads to trouble. 

 Contraction is due to a removal of the full functions of the foot, 

 such as is the case in lameness, removal of frog pressure, defective 

 shoeing, etc. Contraction occurs more especially at the heels, 

 and more frequently in the fore feet than in the hind ones. Veter- 

 inarians look upon this condition as constituting unsoundness. 

 Treatment is not of much avail, but going barefoot or wearing 

 a special shoe to spread the heels will help to alleviate the con- 

 dition. 



Corns. A corn is a bruise to the fleshy sole, and is mani- 

 fested by a reddish discoloration of the horny sole beneath 

 the bruise. It usually occurs upon the inner quarter of the 

 fore foot. A corn very often causes severe lameness, and is 

 a cause of unsoundness. The treatment consists in paring, 

 special shoeing, poulticing, keeping the part thoroughly clean, 

 and a few weeks' rest. 



Cracked heels. This condition is denoted by an inflamed 

 state of the skin, which becomes broken, and, if severe, may 

 cause lameness. They are frequent in the horse, especially 

 following a frost, the moisture from the thaw favoring this. 

 It is similar to chapped hands, and fissuring is favored by the 

 movements in the hollow of the heels. Treatment consists of 

 the application of a soothing liniment applied daily with tow 

 and bandage. 



Curb. This is an unnatural prominence of variable size, 

 located on the posterior border of the hock, four or five inches 

 below the point of the hock. It is easily detected by viewing 

 the joint in profile. It is caused by a sprain of the tendon which 

 passes over that part, or of the strong ligament located there. 

 Hocks that are sickled, coarse, and thick in appearance, or that 



