SEEDY-TOE. 331 



before lameness becomes manifested, but where the process 

 is allowed to go on without interruption, the occurrence 

 •of lameness is only a question of time, being certain to 

 appear sooner or later. 



Causes. — Seedy-toe may in some cases be due to an heredi- 

 tary predisposition on the part of the animal, the feet of 

 certain animals being, generally speaking, more liable to 

 disease than the feet of others ; but probably it is most fre- 

 quently caused by the large toe-clips that are so commonly 

 used, which, by pressing down upon the fibres of the horn, 

 interfere with their nutrition, and seedy-toe is the result. 

 Any irritation causing impaired secretion or interfering with 

 the nutrition of the horn may have the same effect. Seedy- 

 toe, while in many cases not accompanied by lameness, 

 is nevertheless an unsoundness, and consequently should 

 receive attention when an examination is being made as to 

 soundness. 



Treatment. — Remove the shoe, and cut down the toe, 

 removing all the diseased horn ; the sole and wall may also 

 be cut down to a certain extent. Poultices should be applied, 

 the hoof kept moist, and counter-irritants applied to the 

 coronet ; afterward applications of cold water to the coronet 

 will be found useful to stimulate the growth of new horn. 

 If the sensitive structures are exposed and much irritation 

 exists, it may be allayed by means of poultices, fomenta- 

 tions, etc., and the opening should be closed by applying a 

 pledget of tow saturated M'ith some simple substance, tar 

 being as good as anything. It cannot be considered as a very 

 serious condition, generally speaking, but is tedious, as con- 

 siderable time is required for new horn to grow. The style 

 of shoeing should be changed to prevent a recurrence of the 

 condition. 



False Quarter.— 'False c|uarter' is the term used to 

 •designate a false growth, or an abnormal secretion of the 



