246^ 



TTIE MODERN SYSTEM 



and the sole likewise generally concave ; it is 

 in general much thicker in substance also, 

 ■which greatly adds to the pain usually felt in 

 progression. From the great pain the Horse 

 is in during his standing in the stable, he 

 sometimes puts one leg before the other, the 

 most painful one pointing under the manger. 

 This by Horsemen is termed " pointing, or 

 fencing,'" and is a sure sign of the disease. 

 Such a Horse when going on the road, is al- 

 ways inclined to canter; for, if in the walk or 

 trot, where one fore-leg is in the air at a time, 

 it is more than ten to one, but the weight of his 

 rider brings him down. Whenever, there- 

 fore, this is observed, however free from lame- 

 ness the Horse may appear, such feet are 

 diseased ; and frequently on close inspection 

 in these cases, one may detect a shortened 

 step, and .sudden drop of the knee, or fetlock 

 joint, termed " going feelingly," as though 

 the Horse was going on hot bricks, the proper 

 sensibility seems lost ; for such Horses, sel- 

 dom or never step true, but always trip or 

 stumble. 



Nor can we wonder that lameness should 

 be the consequence of contraction, when we 

 consider how exquisitely sensible are the in- 

 ternal parts of the foot, and how completely 

 they fill up the cavity, which being lessened, 

 must subject the contained parts to pressure, 

 between the hard substances of the coffin- 

 bone, the walls, and sole. The inflammation 

 frequently goes on to that extent, that a 

 deposit of coagulable lymph between the 

 Jaminse takes place, and sometimes over the 

 sensible sole, which in a great measure des- 

 troys the natural sensibility. This is called 

 by the old farriers, " mimbness'" of the foot; 

 but this is not the end of the matter, for the 

 inflammation will extend to the bones and 



cartilages; and while the former throw out 

 bony matter, the latter will become absorbed, 

 and bone deposited to supply their place, 

 This of course must produce great lameness 

 and pain to the poor animal. 



In giving my opinion for the treatment of 

 contraction, it requires me to pause, as no 

 general treatment can be used, but it must be 

 subject to the kind of foot you have to contend 

 with. Feet having taken on the disease, are 

 of such great varieties, that a general pre- 

 scription would not be of much use ; but as I 

 have undertaken the task, I will at once go 

 into the treatment of contraction. I shall also 

 not forget the methods adopted by the Royal 

 Veterinary College. From what I have ob- 

 served, contraction may arise from external as 

 well as internal causes ; consequently, in many 

 cases we can only administer palliatives. 

 Fortunately, however, where internal de- 

 rangement has not taken place, although the 

 pressure may be great, and considerable lame- 

 ness ensue, still the ill effects are not of tiiat 

 lastiii"" nature ; for by enlarging the hoofs, the 

 pressure may be removed, and the pain taken 

 off. No means of course would be equal to a 

 perfect cure, and consequently it would mit 

 be wise to recommend a tedious and expen- 

 sive process, when a palliative mode ought to 

 be adopted; but in the latter case, a perfect 

 cure would follow a judicious mode of treat- 

 ment, and therefore these circumstances would 

 not deter from it. If the contraction has not 

 been of a long duration, you may, by proceed- 

 ing slowly and carefully, obtain your ends ; 

 and particularly if you can ascertain the cause 

 of the disease, and there is every reason to 

 believe the internal parts are not materially 



affected. 



There have been, by many ingenious aval 



