FEET OF THli: HORSE AND THEIR DISEASES. 



307 



the hoof over the spot, so as to give it a chance to swell and relieve the 



pressure. Put the foot into a poultice ; change it once a day, and relieve 



the pain as much as possible by paring away all the 



hoof you can over and around the part ; it will 



grow again long before the horse is fit to work. 



If any hole forms for the escape of the pus, you 



may be sure there is a broken piece of bone that 



is acting as an irritant, and must be removed. 



Follow down the hole, paring away the hoof as 



much as is necessary to remove all detached pieces, 



for every piece that is separated from the main 



body will have to come out. 



When all the pieces are removed, dress with the carbolic lotion. No. 6, 

 iwice a day, letting the poultice come over it until the discharge is stop- 

 ped, and the hole filled up with flesh. Then dress it with the White lo- 

 lion. No. 7, three times a day. Trim the new hoof as it grows to make it 

 frrovr down as evenly as possible. When sufficiently healed to be safe to 

 turn him out, do so, and let him run two or three months. In most cases 

 the wound will fill up and heal with very little trouble, and the foot will 

 be nearly as good as before. 



DIAGRAM OF FOOT. 



Showing the position of the cof- 

 fin bone, which is often frac- 

 tured. 



vm. stone Bruises. 



Causes. — Bruises are often found on the feet, especially around the 

 heels. They are usually caused by stepping on round or pointed stones, 

 or other hard substance. Sometimes they are slight and get well without 

 any treatment other than a day or two of rest. 

 But sometimes they result seriously, when the 

 bruise is so deep that suppuration takes place, and 

 is liable to spread or work up through and break 

 out at the top, like a corn . Sometimes the bruise 

 is so severe as to destroy the life of the soft 

 parts undemeatli, causing them to slough out 

 bodily as soon as the hoof over the spot is 

 removed, leaving a hole large enough to put your 

 finger into. Sometimes it comes by a very hard 

 blow on the heel of the shoe, which bruises the 

 quarter, and all of its attachments, from the bone, 

 60 that a core as large as the end of your thumb 

 sloughs off the wing of the coffin bone. When the injury is so great it 

 must be promptly treated, or it will break out at the top and form a 

 qaittor. 



BOTTOM OF FOOT. 



Showing a stone caught between 

 the sole and shoe- 



