PUMICED FOOT. 191 



will still be partially suspended, and, tliougli it descends and 

 rests on the sole, its full weight docs not have to be sustained 

 by it. In this case, the sole will become flat, or slightly con- 

 vex, and the crust or wall fall in from above, to some extent. 

 This condition may remain for some time and no great change 

 of the condition of the parts within the hoof take place, except 

 a gradual wasting away of the sole, by absorption, where the 

 coffin-bone presses on it. It sonue times happens that a dispo- 

 sition to unite takes place in the parts thus separated ; and 

 this adhesion may be quite firm, and something like a cure be 

 the result. It is, when the case is of this character, no part 

 of the hoof being broken, that a cure, by the means I shall 

 describe, w^hen I come to the treatment, may be more confi- 

 dently hoped for. This form of the disease is most likely to 

 be the result of the less active inflammation of the foot. 



But very soon after active inflammation has taken place in 

 the structures or parts within the hoof, an entire separation 

 of the sensitive and horny lamellae sometimes occurs, pcrmitr 

 ting the coffin-bone to descend and rest its entire weight on 

 the sole. In this case, the sole rapidly descends, absorption 

 takes place very fast, and consequent thinning of it, and, 

 finally, being unable to sustain this unnatural weight, the sole 

 bursts loose from the wall, thus exposing the internal, sensi- 

 tive parts of the foot. Of the intensity of misery and lame- 

 ness, in such a case, imagination can furnish a better idea 

 than words. Great changes w^ithin the foot take place. 

 The structure, as well as the situation of the parts, becomes 

 changed. 



Causes. — As has already been suggested, inflammation of 

 the lamellae of the foot by founder, or any inflammation, is 

 the principal cause of pumiced foot. In the state of health, 

 the union of these little plates is so firm that they are able to 

 bear a force equal to many thousand pounds; but after being 

 the seat of inflammation, this union is soon destroyed. Any 

 thing capable of producing inflammation of the parts within 



