218 THE HORSE OWNER'S 



pain on pressing the heels; the animal picks up the foot 

 nicely, but drops it tenderly, striking the toe first ; the 

 shoe, therefore, is worn considerably at the toe and very 

 little at the heels. Should a horse be slightly lame in 

 both feet, the symptoms are still more obscure and diffi- 

 cult to diagnose. The action of the horse now becomes 

 changed ; he no longer bends his knees with the same free- 

 dom as before; he steps short, the heels scarcely touching 

 the ground, which is a good indication of the disease. 



Treatment. — In recent cases, the application of a prop- 

 er blister is usually successful ; the common fly blister, 

 thinned with spirits of turpentine, answers a very good 

 purpose ; or the following which must be used with great 

 caution to prevent its leaving a blemish behind; pow- 

 dered cantharides, two drachms, oil of turpentine two 

 drachms, powdered euphorbium, one drachm, oil of origa- 

 num, one drachm, hog's lard, two ounces. Mix all togeth- 

 er. This should not be repeated after the blister acts. In 

 cases of long standing, a seton put through the frog will 

 often be of great service in restoring the animal to use- 

 fulness. 

 OSSIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGES. 



These cartilages are two grizly projections or wings at- 

 tached to the coffin bone at the heels, and may readily be 

 felt above the hoof From contraction, corns and other 

 causes, these elastic bodies often become changed from 

 gristle to bone in consequence of inflammation, leaving the 

 horse with thick heels and a short, tender tread in trav- 

 eling. The treatment in these cases is only palliative in 

 its confirmed state ; the same treatment as for navicular- 

 joint lameness is proper. 



