DISEASES OF HORSES. 719 



and keeps the fore feet close together, and when weight is 

 thrown on one foot, it is suddenly jerked up, almost as in 

 string-halt or other nervous troubles. When it occurs in one 

 foot only, it can usually be traced to some injury ; as, one leg 

 being disabled and the sound one being compelled to bear too 

 much weight, causes it in the sound foot. If it occurs in botli 

 hind-feet it can often be traced to having been driven on hard 

 roads, without shoes. But when it is caused by some derange- 

 ment of the stomach, it either attacks both fore-feet or all four 

 of the feet. Sometimes the bones of the feet descend and make 

 the bottoms of the feet convex, and thus cause what is called 

 " Pumiced Foot," or, in more severe cases, the bone descends 

 right through the sole of the foot. In such cases the hoof 

 grows in a very bad, almost shapeless mass. If an attack is 

 mild and allowed to continue, all these conditions may occur. 



TREATMENT. Remove the shoes, rasp the horn of the hoof 

 away until it is considerably thinned, and then poultice the 

 whole foot by making a sack of strong cloth or leather, large- 

 enough to pass over the foot, then fill up with a warm poultice 

 and secure the sack around the leg, but not too tightly. Then, 

 if the attack is not caused by an overdose of physic or diarrhea, 

 give eight drams of aloes ; and if the pain is very severe, give 

 with the aloes one dram of powdered opium, and give injections 

 of soap and warm water freely. If the fever is great, give 

 tincture of aconite-root, twenty drops, largely diluted in water, 

 every two hours, until relieved. Bleeding is good in many 

 cases, and if blood is taken, do not give so much physic. In 

 all cases nitrate of potash should be given, in four dram doses, 

 three times a day, in the feed, drinking water, or in a drench 

 of cold water ; always allowing plenty of cold water, in small 

 quantities at a time, until the physic begins to operate, after 

 which it should be given sparingly for awhile. When these 

 remedies do no good, it is probable matter is forming in one or 

 more of the feet, and, in some cases, it becomes necessary to 

 make an opening at the toe by cutting away the hoof, allowing 

 the matter to run out; and if this is done in time, it may pre- 

 vent the descent of the bone as already described. When the 



