606 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



great reluctance to allow one to be picked up, on account of the necessity 

 which is thrown upon the other of taking the whole weight of the fore- 

 quarter. The coronet and hoof feel very hot, and if this state of things is 

 not speedily stopped, the laminae cease to secrete horn, and the connection 

 between them and the hoof ceases, causing the latter to separate, and the 

 sensible parts to be exposed, covered with a thin scaly horn. This has 

 happened in many cases which have afterwai'ds secreted new hoofs ; but the 

 horn is not so strong and useful as before, and a horse with such feet is not 

 fit for hard work on the road. If proper treatment is adopted, the inflam- 

 mation either subsides entirely, leaving no mischief behind it, or there is a 

 chronic inflammation left which induces the alterations of structure which 

 have been alluded to. 



The Treatment should be by first removing the shoes, and then, 

 after paring down the sole so as to allow of the expansion of the 

 sensible parts, a large quantity of blood is taken from the toe, making sure 

 that a vessel of suflicient size is opened to produce a strong shock on the 

 heart and arteries, as well as to relieve the local afiection. If the blood 

 does not flow freely, the foot rpay be placed in a pail of warm water, but 

 when the operation is properly performed there is never any difficulty in 

 obtaining any quantity of blood which may be required. Next tack the 

 shoes on lightly again, and then give a smart dose of physic, or else, what is 

 perhaps a better plan, give the following : — 



Take of Barbadoes Aloes 



Tartar Emetic, of each 1 drachm. 



Powdered Digitalis i drachm. 



Symp enough to form a ball. 



which should be given every six hours, until the bowels act, when the other 

 materials may be continued without the aloes. The feet should be kept 

 constantly wet and cool by tying a piece of felt or flannel around each 

 pastern, and allowing it to fall over the hoof, when it is to be continually 

 wetted, or poultices of bran and linseed may be continually applied. Any 

 application of moisture is calculated to relieve pain by permitting of expan- 

 sion. The administration of aloes is thought by some veterinary surgeons 

 to increase the risk of pulmonary congestion by metastasis, and there is 

 some doubt as to the advisability of enforced movement. Mr. Broad, of 

 Bath, who is an eminent authority on the subject, advocates gentle exercise, 

 and putting on a shoe as early as possible made of iron " twice the ordinary 

 thickness and thinned from behind the quarters, so that the heel part of the 

 shoe is wide and thin, and fitted rocker fashion, which enables the horse to 

 throw his weight where he tries to, much better than he can in ordinary 

 shoes or without any." 



Chronic lamixitis is generally first shown by a slight soreness or 

 lameness, generally appearing in both fore-feet, and, therefore, being often 

 overlooked by casual observers. In coming in from work the coronets 

 feel wanner than natural ; but this goes off during the night, and, for a 

 time, no great fears are entertained of the feet recovering their former con- 

 dition, the blame being, perhaps, laid upon the shoe. In a month or two, 

 however, the smith (who has, perhaps, been ordered to take ofi" the shoes 

 two or three times, by which the injury is increased) finds that his nails do 

 not hold, and the quarters break away ; while the action of the horse 



