CONTEACTIOX, OR HOOF- BOUND. 173 



second, whether, under the circumstances, it can be benefited 

 by treatment ; third, whether it will justify the expense to be 

 incurred ; fourth, the exact means to be made use of in the 

 case. All these points should be clearly determined before 

 proceeding with the case. 



It is an object to avoid blemishing the horse as much as 

 possible. Some surgeons forget this, and use measures which 

 leave permanent blemishes, when a little more time or 

 expense would accomplish the object without any blemish. 



AFFECTIONS OF THE FEET. 



CONTK ACTION, OR HOOF- BOUND. 



Contraction is a wiring in, or drawing in, of the heels of 

 the crust or wall of the hoof ; the hoof becoming more erect, 

 the lower border smaller in circumference, and the fi'og 

 diminished in breadth. 



Symiitoms. — The above descrij^tion will generally enable 

 the observer to tell when contraction is present. It may 

 occur in either or both of the fore-feet. When hoof-bound 

 comes on fast, it is always accompanied with lameness. There 

 is generally some lameness at the commencement, even when 

 it comes on slow ; in other cases, however, it is absent, and 

 generally absent when the case is of long standing. When 

 the lameness is severe, the horse exhibits uneasiness in 

 standing, places the lame foot forward, in atrophy of the 

 muscles. Sweeny does so, but puts the heel on the ground, 

 and, in contraction, the toe ; or, as it is said, points with it ; 

 or, if both feet are afi^ected, he first points with one, and then 

 with the other, with the heel raised. He experiences much 

 difficulty in moving ; raises the foot but little off the ground 



