220 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



rise to incurable lameness, so long as nervous sensation exists 

 in the part. 



Treatment. — First remove the ordinary shoe, and endeavour 

 to bring the foot as near its natural shape as possible. If 

 it be at all out of shape, rasp down the inferior part of the 

 foot, more especially at the heel, as the animal shows a ten- 

 dency to go upon the toe. Heat and irritation should be 

 allayed by poultices and other soothing applications. The 

 actual cautery may be used ; but there is little necessity for 

 its employment in most cases. Mild or, if thought neces- 

 sary, pretty severe counter-irritation may be tried, and is 

 usually attended with benefit. Cut down the wall of the 

 hoof, and apply a light three-quarter shoe in such a manner 

 as to throw the weight on the frog, and outside of the 

 foot. If possible, the animal should be allowed a long rest. 

 In France an operation is often performed, which consists 

 of removal of the ossified structures by excision ; but such 

 an operation is objectionable for various reasons : one reason, 

 and perhaps not the least, is that the operation is not always 

 successful in removing the lameness, and in such a case it is 

 not only useless, but may be productive of a great deal of 

 harm. The operation of neurotomy being far preferable, 

 almost uniformly successful, and is rarely followed by bad 

 results. 



OSSALETS. 



Ossalets, or Osteophytes, may be defined to be exotoses 

 occurring in the proximity of joints. They are irregular in 

 shape, size, and outline, and are formed by the solidification 

 or ossification of an exudate which has been thrown out in 

 consequence of some inflammatory action which has pre- 

 viously taken place in the part affected. They probably 

 occur with greater frequency in the neighbourhood of the 

 fetlock than other joints, and are more commonly met with 



