24^ Common Diseases of the Horse 



Bruised Sole 



This results from uneven pressure, causing more or less inflam- 

 mation of the sensitive parts beneath. Flat-soled feet are of course 

 more liable to injury, particularly between the toe and the point of 

 the frog. It is readily detected by removing the shoe and squeezing 

 the toe with pincers. If the injury is accompanied by great lame- 

 ness, hot bran poultices may be applied night and morning for two 

 or three days until the inflammation subsides. If, however, the 

 lameness is slight, pressure may be relieved, not by removing the 

 horn and weakening an already thin sole, but by applying a " seated 

 shoe". This is all the treatment absolutely necessary. Leather 

 soles, however, with or without a dressing of tow and tar, may be 

 put on to prevent bruising, and after an injury they are useful 

 where the roads are not kept in good order, and loose stones 

 abound. But they are not generally necessary; they are only an 

 additional expense, and do not improve the quality of the horn. 



Corns 



Corn is the result of a bruise or injury to the sole in the angle 

 between the wall and the bars. It commonly occurs on the inside 

 heel of the fore foot. It is rare on the outside or in the hind feet. 

 A flat foot, low at the heel, is most susceptible. The cause is 

 usually the pressure of the shoe from being fitted too closely on 

 the inside, or of being too short on its inner branch. Other causes 

 are over-rasping or cutting away the wall at the heels, making it 

 so thin that it over-expands, and is unable to bear the weight 

 imposed upon it; cuttmg away the bars and thus removing their 

 support; and scooping out too much horn between the wall and 

 bars, thus causing a cavity which becomes filled with dirt and 

 gravel. 



Symptoms. — Lameness, in which the horse will take short steps 

 and be confined in his action. At rest he will ease the heels by 

 flexing his fetlocks, or he may point the affected foot. Examina- 

 tion shows discoloration of the horn, due to extravasation of blood. 

 The part may be moist and red, in which case it is of recent origin, 

 or dry and yellow or black, when it will have been in existence 

 some time. 



Sometimes micro-organisms gain access, and matter forms 

 under the horn. If this is not soon allowed to escape it may burst 

 out on the coronet, generally just at the top of the heel, or it may 

 run along the sole. In such a case the horse will be in great pain, 

 and show all the signs of fever. 



