DISEASES OF HORSES 257 



and, as a consequence, the nails of the shoe are readily loosened and 

 the shoe cast. 



Clubfoot is a term applied to such feet as have the wall set 

 nearly perpendicular. When this condition is present the heels are 

 high, the fetlock joint is thrown forward, or knuckles, and the weight 

 of the animal is received on the toes. Many mules are elubfooted, 

 especially behind, where it seems to cause little or no inconvenience. 

 Clubfoot may be cured by cutting the tendons in severe cases; but, 

 as a rule, special shoeing is the only measure of relief that can be 

 adopted. The toe should not be pared, but the heels are to be low- 

 ered as much as possible, and a snoe put on with a long projecting 

 toe piece, slightly turned up, while the heels of the shoe are to be 

 made thin. 



Crookedfoot is that condition in which one side of the wall is 

 higher than the other. If the inside wall is the higher, the ankle is 

 thrown outward, so that the fetlock joints are abnormally wide apart 

 and the toes close together. Animals with this deformity are pigeon- 

 toed, and are prone to interfere, the inside toe striking the opposite 

 fetlock. If but one foot is affected, the liability to interfere is still 

 greater, for the reason that the fetlock of the perfect leg is more near 

 the center plane. 



When the outside heel is the higher the ankle is thrown in and 

 the toe turns out. Horses with such feet interfere with the heel. If 

 but one foot is so affected, the liability to interfere is less than where 

 both feet are affected, for the reason that the ankle of the perfect 

 leg is not so near to the center plane. Such animals are especially 

 liable to stumbling and to lameness from injury to the ligaments of 

 the fetlock joints. The deformity is to be overcome by such shoeing 

 as will equalize the disparity in length of walls, and by proper boots 

 to protect the fetlocks from interfering. 



INTERFERING. 



An animal is said to interfere when one foot strikes the oppo- 

 site leg, as it passes by, during locomotion. The inner surface of the 

 fetlock joint is the part most subject to this injury, although, under 

 certain conditions, it may happen to any part of the ankle. It is 

 Been more often in the hind than in the fore legs. Interfering causes 

 a bruise of the skin and deeper tissues, generally accompanied by an 

 abrasion of the surface. It may cause lameness, dangerous tripping, 

 and thickening of the injured parts. 



Causes. Faulty conformation is the most prolific cause of inter- 

 fering. When the bones of the leg are so united that the toe of the 

 foot turns in, or when the fetlock joints are close together and the 

 toe turns out, when the leg is so deformed that the whole foot and 

 ankle turn either in or out, interfering is almost sure to follow. It 

 may happen, also, when the feet grow too long, from defecting shoe- 

 ing, rough or slippery roads, from the exhaustion of labor or sick- 

 ness, swelling of tiie leg, high knee action, fast work, and because 

 the chest and hips are too narrow. 



Symptoms. Generally, the evidences of interfering are easily 

 detected, for the parts are tender, swollen, and the skin broken. But 



