Common Diseases of the Horse 187 



heels strong, a fair depth, and a good width across. In shape the 

 whole foot should approach the oval rather than the round, as calcu- 

 lated to better resist wear and prove altogether more serviceable. 



The round open foot is often not of the wearing kind; it is 

 likely to become flat-soled. This kind readily bruises, and gives 

 rise to difficulty in shoeing; has weak, fleshy heels, and has in 

 iddition a tendency to separation of the wall and sole, or of the 

 layers of horn composing the wall. 



With regard to general conformation, the hind feet are more 

 upright than the fore, and not infrequently a little narrower and a 

 trifle longer. In all cases, however, both fore and both hind feet 

 should be pairs. Odd feet should always be regarded as a grave 

 defect, as almost invariably there has been some cause for the dis- 

 crepancy, and a horse showing this defect should not be entertained 

 for either stud or work. 



Seedy Toe is a condition in which a cheese-like material makes 

 its appearance between the layers of fibres of horn at the toe, 

 causing a separation in the wall. This disease often extends a con- 

 siderable distance up the wall, sometimes nearly to the coronet. 

 It also extends round the foot as far back as the heels. In the 

 round flat foot the quarters are frequently affected as well. They 

 are then known as seedy feet, and are readily detected by removing 

 the shoes and paring the foot between the wall and sole, when the 

 cavities caused by the disease are easily exposed. If a wall in this 

 condition is tapped with a light hammer, mallet, or any other suit- 

 able instrument, a hollow sound is produced instead of that solid 

 tone one should find. It may be tried in the same way as a barrel 

 is rapped to determine how much liquid it contains. 



Shelly or Shaky Feet are those in which the horn is of a brittle 

 nature, and easily breaks, chips off", or wears until it is unduly thin, 

 and will not carry the nails properly. Sandcracks are liable to 

 occur, and trouble from shoeing is frequent in such a condition. 



Contracted Foot is that which appears to have shrunk or become 

 smaller than its fellow; particularly is this so at the heels, causing 

 a squeezing together of the various structures in that region. If 

 picked up the frog is found to be small, and may be distorted in 

 shape, according to whether the contraction has occurred on one or 

 both sides. In deciding as to the unsoundness of a foot, the buyer 

 or breeder must use his discretion, whether the disease or defect 

 is hereditary or acquired, and if the latter it may not be a difficult 

 matter to remedy. 



Seedy toe is often caused by the toe-clip being too tight; brittle 

 feet by over-rasping; contracted quarters by bad shoeing. Care 



