1 86 Common Diseases of the Horse 



between the bone and tendons. It takes away all feeling from the 

 part below which they are severed. There are two methods, known 

 as the high and low operation, but the latter is liable to fail. 



For a successful operation the horse should not be too old, and 

 have good thick horn with strong heels. He requires to be cast 

 and hobbled, and an incision is made in the groove about an inch 

 above the side of the fetlock, and not less than an inch of the 

 nerve removed. This process takes place on both sides of the 

 fetlock, but is performed a little higher on the inside to avoid inter- 

 ference by the other limb should any thickening ensue. After the 

 operation all feeling should be entirely removed from the foot. 

 This can be ascertained by pricking any part below the seat of 

 operation with a pin. Unnerving does not in any way alleviate the 

 disease in the foot, and it either remains stationary or probably 

 advances. Should the result prove satisfactory the horse will go 

 sound for a year or two, when a return of the lameness will usually 

 take place. The operation may then again be performed, but a 

 little higher up the limb. 



Unsound Feet 



To act on the old saying, " No foot, no horse ", is the best advice 

 the buyer or breeder can have. However good the animal may 

 otherwise be, if the feet are not good trouble is being sought in a 

 most certain fashion. They should be good in every respect and 

 composed of sound horn, the tougher the better. Dark horn is 

 usually better than light; the best is of a dark-blue colour. It 

 must not, however, be supposed that light or white horn is bad. 

 In many cases a good white foot will wear quite as well as those of 

 a darker hue; but, all things being equal, preference should cer- 

 tainly be given to the darker colour as being more likely to stand 

 the wear and tear to which it will be subjected. 



The wall requires to be of a good uniform thickness, greatest at 

 the toe, and gradually getting thinner towards the heels, with a 

 slope which attains its maximum in front. This should be an 

 angle of 45° to 50°, gradually getting more upright as it recedes 

 towards the heels. The whole wall should be smooth and even, 

 without rings or depressions, as these are symptoms of previous 

 disease, either constitutional or of the foot itself It should be of 

 medium depth and, most important of all, wide round the coronet. 



On the ground surface the sole requires to be nicely concave 

 and united firmly to the wall, and likewise composed of a good 

 quality of horn. The frog should be bold and well defined ; the 



