83 



ivliich he usually receives the whip. After a while, 

 flattening sometimes appears on the front of the hoof, 

 and the heels contract ; the older animals have now 

 short, brittle, shining hoofs, wiih the small pastern 

 bone deeper sunk than heretofore ; the hollow of the 

 sole is converted into the convex, or pumice foot, so 

 that the animal can scarce find fo,ot-hold on ihe ground, 

 but will slip and slide about. He is then considered 

 groggy, that is to say, " like a drunkard," and may 

 last many years ; this is chest founder, and indeed the 

 whc^le limb is usually affected up to tfie very chest. 



Jiemedy. — As soon as discovered, lake off the shoe, 

 note well the condition of the £ole, the heat, and other 

 eyiF.ptoms, for according as these vary, so must the 

 remedies be chauijed. Draw the soles a litile \\ilh the 

 buttress if found too thick, not otherwise ; rasp the 

 heels and quarters, which will ease the pain occ.asion- 

 ed by the binding of the hoof, and give room for the 

 action of the foot; a fact that may be ascertained by 

 bending in at the pastern, forwards and backwards, 

 before the operatior., and trying the same experiment 

 afterwards. Ayply a bran p tuJtice warm to the wholo 

 foot daily, but do not add to it any greasy or oily sub- 

 stances as is too often practiced. The sponge boot 

 may be employed with advantage, made large. After 

 three or four days, if the horn has recovered its former 

 consistency, put on the shoe gently, and walk the pa- 

 tient to try how much he is now lame ; and if the at- 

 tack has been a slight one, he may recover with very 

 little more treatment than a turn in a meadow will af- 

 ford. Otherwise the feet must be stopped, and kept 

 moist and cool. 



The proper secretion of the juicy elastic substance, 

 for the formation of new hoof, being essential to the 

 restoration of the horse, and as the lameness will not 

 wholly subside unless this process goes on healthi- 

 Jy, resort must be had to blisterinjO-, provided he still 

 continues lame any. This should ex'end from the 

 coronet and quarters to the knee, and be repeated, tak- 

 ing care to keep the heels open and tho sole stopped. 

 The good effects to the sole that will be found to re- 

 sult from blistering, shows the connection or compaij? 

 ionship that exists between the legs and feet. 



