230 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



Symptoms. — If it is in the hind foot the animal knuckles over 

 and becomes lame very suddenly. If in the front foot he points it 

 out whilft standing, and when he steps on it will put as little 

 weight on it as possible and hop on the sound leg. If you ex- 

 amine the foot you may find the nail itself; if not, by tapping- 

 around the foot with a small hammer you will find where the 

 tender spot is, then pare around it and you will find a small, black 

 spot where the nail went in. 



Treatment. — If you find the nail pull it out and pare out the 

 hole where the nail went in almost down to the quick, after this- 

 drop in a few drops of butter of antimony, which will kill any- 

 poison or rust that may be left in. After this keep the animal 

 quiet and apply a hot poultice of half linseed and bran for a few 

 days until he is entirely over the lameness before you work him. 

 The danger of these punctures are that they may start to fester, 

 which is a very painful thing, and also very dangerous. If it 

 starts to fester, the animal will hold the foot up with pain ; it will 

 be swollen around the top and very hot. Cut down well into the 

 hole and allow the matter to escape ; bathe with hot water and 

 poultice to relieve the pain and draw all the matter out. In cases 

 where you cut a large hole and the quick bulges out, burn it with 

 butter of antimony once a day. After the animal is able to walk 

 nicely blister the foot around the top of the hoof with the same 

 blister used in chronic founder and turn him out to pasture till the- 

 soreness is all out. 



PRICKS IN THE FOOT. 



These are injuries which are caused in shoeing by driving 

 nails too close to the quick. 



Symptoms. — At the time of driving the nail the horse will give 

 a sudden jerk, showing that the nail struck the quick. 



Treatment. — Remove the shoe and keep the horse quiet for a 

 day or two ; if he is lame poultice the foot with hot linseed. It he 

 continues to be lame, pare around the nail hole and give it the 

 same treatment that is given for punctures of other nails. In any 

 of these cases, if you want to work the animal when he is getting 

 better, plug the hole with tar and cotton batting and put a leather 

 under the shoe to keep the dirt out. 



