320 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, 



especially if a faulty nail be used. The walls of the hoof may 

 also be abnormally thin, or the animal may make a sudden 

 jerk while the nail is being driven, and its course thereby 

 changed. In many cases, however, it is due to carelessness 

 on the part of the shoer. If the nail is withdrawn at once 

 and the animal kept perfectly quiet, as a rule no bad 

 results will follow ; but often the smith does not know that 

 he has pricked the horse, and in other cases he may be 

 aware of the fact, but refrains^from mentioning it, the result 

 being great lameness in a day or|two afterward. Again, 

 lameness may be produced by the shoulder of the nail 

 pressing upon the sensitive laminae, in consequence of the 

 nail having been driven too near without having actually 

 touched the sensitive structures. In such a case the animal 

 usually remains free from lameness for a week or so, and 

 then becomes lame in consequence of the continual irri- 

 tation. Again, the lameness may be developed by the 

 animal stepping ujDon a stone, and thereby increasing the 

 slight irritation already present from the nail. When the 

 practitioner is told that the horse has recently been shod, 

 and has become lame, he should examine the situation of 

 the nails, when usually one nail will be seen to have 

 passed a little higher than the others. The animal 

 should be caused to walk and trot, his action and the 

 degree of lameness, meanwhile, being carefully observed. 

 After which, tap on the suspected spot, or use the pincers, 

 and trot him again, when it will be observed that the lame- 

 ness is greater than before. In other cases a hole may be 

 seen, showing that a nail has been driven and withdrawn, 

 probably because the smith had become aware that he had 

 pricked the animal. The appearance of such a hole should 

 be regarded as a suspicious circumstance, and after ex- 

 amination the shoe should be removed and the knife used 

 to make a dependent opening to allow of the free escape 



