INJURIES AND DISEASES OF THE FEET. 217 



between the sole and the wall with a small drawing-knife 

 across the track of the nail, so as to relieve pressure, and give 

 exit to any matter which may have formed ; then put the foot 

 in a bucket of hot water for an hour or so, afterwards applying 

 a large poultice. When the lameness has gone have the shoe 

 put on again, leaving out the nail at the part which had been 

 injured, and filling up the cavity with tar and tow. 



Sometimes in driving back the clip of the shoe against the 

 hoof, this is done improperly, which results in pressing tightly 

 against the wall, and bruising the sensitive parts within. In 

 putting the clip against the hoof, the hammer should be applied 

 at the base first, and then come lightly up to the point. It is 

 the opposite procedure which usually causes damage. 



The treatment consists in taking ofi" the shoe, and foment- 

 ing the foot in hot water for some time ; if need be, a poultice 

 may be applied. 



It nob unfrequently happens that, with a tender-footed 

 horse, the farrier nails on the shoe too tightly, causing a short 

 and crippled gait, which may not disappear for some days ; 

 inflammation may even ensue. The remedy for this is to take 

 off the shoe and put it on more easily, or with smaller nails. 



Side-bones. 



On each wing of the pedal-bone is a large elastic plate of 

 cartilage, the upper margin of which can be distinctly felt 

 above each side of the hoof towards the heels of the foot, and 

 the use of which is very important in giving springiness to the 

 movements of this part of the limb. 



In some horses — and more especially those which are coarse 

 bred — these become rigid or ossified, either through wearing 

 shoes with high calkins or from concussion on hard roads, this 

 change usually taking place in the fore-feet. With slow-paced 

 horses this alteration is not of so much consequence as with 

 riding or harness horses, in which it usually causes lameness. 



