FEET OF THE HORSE AND THEIR DISEASES. 



301 



if not, let it alone. After the blister has been on for twelve hours, 

 smear fresh lard over it. Continue this once a day, till the scabs come off ; 

 then turn him out to grass, with the shoe on, but reset it once a month, 

 with the same directions carried out as given above. 



If it is impracticable to turn to grass, keep the foot soft for a couple 

 of months, by soaking in a foot-bath, or poultice-boots occasionally. 

 He had better not be worked or driven during this treat- 

 ment. Even after you think he is well, the high heel had 

 better be continued for a couple of months. 



If this does not cure, the next thing to be done is to 

 have a frog seton inserted. This requires the skill 

 of a qualified veterinary surgeon, and the foot must 

 be kept in a poultice boot six weeks. A long 

 rest and proper shoeing afterwards will also be neces- 

 necessary. 



In all chronic cases, or those that will not yield to 

 treatment, all there remains to be done, is to perform 

 neurotomy. This also requires the skill of the surgeon ; 

 it never should be done, except as a last resort, and when 

 the horse is useless from incurable Ipmeness, from this or 

 any other disease in the feet. 



III. Contraction of the Foot. 



Causes. — Contraction is thought by many to be an original disease, 

 coming on without any departure from a healthy foot previouslj^ ; but 

 this is a mistake, except in very rare instances. It is nearly always the 

 effect of some other disease, especially when bad. Contraction accom- 

 panies navicular disease, corns, founder, sprains of the tendons, liga- 

 ments and muscles of the leg or shoulder. Any long-standing lame- 

 ness, of the foot or leg, is always accompanied by contraction of that foot 

 from the continual rest it gets in being favored every time the horse 

 stops ; when standing, he always points that foot, and rests it til] 

 compelled to start again. At the same time, the healthy foot expands on 

 account of getting more than its share of the work ; so it is only a ques- 

 tion of a short time for the feet to become very uneven, one small and the 

 other large ; and they will no longer be mates. When you see this con- 

 dition you may look for chronic lameness ; it is most likely to be in the 

 feet, either navicular disease, or chronic founder. 



But contraction, to a certain extent, is the inevitable result of shoeing, 

 A colt's foot, before being shod, is large, round and open-heeled, the 

 quarters spread out like wings, and the whole foot on the under side hae 



DIAGRAM. 



Showing Ihe coursi. 

 of the nerve thai 

 is severed in neu- 

 rotomy, a is the 

 nerve leading tc 

 frog. 



