590 



DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



grow more rapidly than the low side whose pododerm is relatively 

 anemic as a result of the greater weight falling into this half of the 

 hoof, and the ultimate result will be a " w ry," or crooked foot. 



THE CARE OF UNSHOD HOOFS. 



The colt should have abundant exercise on dry ground. The hoofs 

 will then wear gradually, and it will only be necessary from time to 

 time to regulate any imeven wear with the rasp and to round off the 

 sharp edge about the toe in order to prevent breaking away of the 

 wall. 



Cv)lts in the stable can not wear down their hoofs, so that every 

 four to six Aveeks tliey should be rasped down and the lower edge of 



the wall Avell rounded to pre- 

 vent chipping. The soles and 

 clefts of the frog should be 

 picked out every few days 

 and the entire hoof washed 

 clean. Plenty of clean straw 

 litter should be provided. 

 Hoofs that are becoming 

 '' awry " should have the wall 

 shortened in such a manner 

 as to straighten the foot- 

 axis. Tliis will ultimately 

 produce a good hoof and will 

 inii:)rove the position of the 

 limb. 



Fig. 1. — Gi-ound .suiface of a right fore boof of 

 the regular form : a, a, wall ; a-a, the toe ; 

 a-b, the side walls ; b-d, the quarters ; c, v, 

 the bars ; d, d, the buttress ; e, lateral cleft of 

 the frog ; f, body of the sole ; o, (/', g", leafy 

 layer (white line) of the toe and bars; h, 

 body of the frog: i, i, liranches of the frog: 

 1-, k, horny bulbs of the heels ; J, middle cleft 

 of the frog. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF A 

 HEALTHY HOOF. 



A healthy hoof (figs. 1 and 

 «) is equalW warm at all 

 parts, and is not tender under 

 pressure with the hands or 

 moderate compression Avith pincers. The coronet is soft and elastic 

 at all points and does not project beyond the surface of the wall. 

 The wall (fig. 8) is straight from coronet to ground, so that a 

 straightedge laid against the Avail from coronet to ground parallel 

 to the direction of the horn tubes Avill touch at every point. The 

 Avail should be covered with the outer varnishlike layer (periople) 

 and should shoAV no cracks or clefts. Every hoof shoAvs " ring for- 

 mation," but the rings should not be strongly marked and should 

 always run parallel to the coronary band. Strongly marked ring- 

 formation over the entire Avail is an evidence of a Aveak hoof, but 



