178 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



the treatment, a radical cure may be impossible ; but, if taken 

 in time, and the foot properly dressed and shod, the disease can 

 be cured. 



In dressing the foot for this disease, pare it level and lower 

 it to its proper angle, bearing in mind the directions given in 

 Chapter IV. 



The style of shoe which I have found to be best adapted 

 for the relief of sore tendons and knee spring, are the scoop-toe 

 rolling motion. Fig. 126, rolling-motion shoe. Fig. 125, and four- 

 caJkin shoe, Fig. 101 ; having the shoe adapted to extend as far 

 back at the heels as the safety of the foot may seem to require. 

 This extension and elevation of the heels usually aftbrds speedy 

 relief. Either of these patterns, by shortening the ground sur- 

 face at the toe and strengthening the knee when the horse is 

 moving forward, will relieve the strain and enable him the bet- 

 ter to pass his feet over uneven ground surface, w^hich is some- 

 times the cause of twisting and straining the already injured 

 parts. Another means of furthering a cure is to feed the horse 

 from the ground. This will have the effect of throwing the ani- 

 mal's weight more directly over his limbs, and thus assist nature, 

 in a manner, to retrench the enlargement in the knee bandages. 



Curb. — This consists of an inflammation and swelling of 

 the posterior portion of the tendon passing over the calcis, or 

 hock bone (p. 36, Fig. 2-39). This is often accompanied with 

 considerable heat, pain and lameness. The cause is an accident 

 to ligaments at and around the hock, and is the result of hard 

 pulling, prancing or leaping, or galloping over uneven ground 

 surfaces, etc. The peculiar conformation of some horses ren- 

 ders them more likely to be attended by curbs than others ; but 

 as it is ahvays the result of over-taxation, and does not admit 

 of much labor in the affected part, it should be remedied as 

 soon as possible. Fig. 73 shows an extreme case of curb, such 

 as may come from the hind feet and legs standing too far under 



