192 NAVIX ox THE HORSE. 



the foot may result in a juimiccd foot — severe and long con- 

 tinued strain of these little plates, hard running, etc. — the 

 worst form generally following active inflammation, or coming 

 on after the milder type of the difficulty has existed for some 

 time. The type of the disease which is not attended with a 

 breaking of the sole is more commonly the result of the less 

 active inflammation of the foot, or chronic founder. 



Pumiced foot is not difficult to determine, when of the more 

 severe type; that is, when the sole is broken. The flattening 

 of the sole, and its evidently becoming thinner, with the 

 peculiar sinking in of the crust in front, and the lameness 

 always present, will distinguish it from the common flat-foot 

 we sometimes meet; also, the walking on the heel and eleva- 

 tion of the toe. 



Treatment. — This is one of the most serious misfortunes to 

 which the horse is liable. Yet I am not of the opinion that 

 all cases are out of the reach of beneiit by proper treatment. 

 The treatment I would adopt consists of a double shoe. 

 With this arrangement, a constant pressure, which is in- 

 creased from time to time, is kept up on the sole, and the 

 coffin-bone, by this means, raised to its proper place. The 

 first shoe is made just as an ordinary shoe, except that there 

 are three projections at each side ; a hole passes through each 

 .of these projections, and a thread is cut in it to receive a 

 screw. This shoe is put on just as any other; but the hoof 

 should be very carefully pared, and the wall made thin as 

 possible, so as not to leave it any stiffer than necessary. An- 

 other shoe just the size of the former, but with no nail-holes, 

 and having the same side projections as the other, but the 

 holes through them being smooth, is made. This shoe is to 

 have two bars across it, and another across them — the first 

 a little back of the quarters, and the second between it and 

 the toe. Six screws with square heads are to be made. They 

 should be a little longer than the thickness of the two shoes. 

 The fiijt shoe is now to be filled up with several thicknesses 



