DISEASES OF THE FEET 255 



spread, Instead of to contract, and In these cases It Is 

 well to hold the foot In place with good, substantial 

 clips on both the Inside and outside of the shoe. 



A mild blister around the coronet, to stimulate the 

 growth of the hoof, Is commonly beneficial. 



iVcute founder Is almost always produced by one 

 of three causes: giving the horse a drink of cold 

 water when he Is heated by hard work or a long drive, 

 allowing him to stand unblanketed when heated, or by 

 an over-feed of grain, especially corn. Many and many 

 a fine horse has been ruined by getting loose in the 

 stable, and helping himself to corn or oats carelessly 

 left uncovered. A grain box so constructed that the 

 horse cannot open it should be a fixture In every stable, 

 eventhe smallest. 



Acute founder Is shown by pain and tenderness in 

 the feet, which. If examined, will be found abnormally 

 hot, with the artery in the pastern throbbing violently. 

 Usually, only the forefeet are affected, but occasionally 

 all the feet. In a bad case of extreme pain, the nostrils 

 are distended and the horse trembles all over. 



Acute founder can usually be cured If taken In hand 

 Immediately. A delay, even of two or three hours Is 

 dangerous. If possible, remove the shoes, doing It as 

 gently as you can, but If the tools for this purpose are 

 not at hand, do not attempt It until you can procure 

 them. The essential thing Is to put the horse at once 

 with his feet in water as hot as your hand can bear it, 

 and to keep him standing In the tub for three or four 

 hours, maintaining the water at the same temperature 

 all the time. If you have no tub — a common washing 



