DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 137 



from work, administer a mild aloetic purge (page 108). 

 Very serious consequences may result from the indolence 

 of grooms in neglecting this ailment. In acute cases, 

 the sore, eating into the tendon, produces mortification 

 and death. I have myself lost a valuable animal from 

 this disease, through the gross neglect of my grooms in 

 my absence. 



Except in the very earliest stages, and in palpably 

 trifling cases, a veterinary surgeon should be consulted, 

 especially in what is called " grease," or matter running 

 from these cracks. The preventive means are, never to 

 allow water to your horses' legs above the coronet on 

 any pretence whatever, and if by accident or work they 

 get wet, to have them rubbed dry as promptly as 

 possible. 



Shelly Hoofs (or splitting open of the external part 

 of the horny hoof). — The feet of some horses are more 

 subject to this disease than those of others, from the 

 fibrous structure being more dry with them. 



This fibrous structure forming the hoof is found, on 

 microscopic examination, to resemble a lot of hairs all 

 glued together into a hardened mass, and where the 

 adhesive matter is of a drier character than usual, the 

 hoofs are more brittle. With some horses this results 

 in " shelly hoofs ;" they don't split, but are perpetually 

 breaking away. With this description of hoofs, tar is 

 the best possible application. Neither grease nor oil 

 should ever be used — these only aggravate the disease, 

 as on close observation they will be found to act as 

 powerful astringents, excluding the healthy action of 

 air and moisture upon the part most in need of them. 

 Strange to say, tar, from its pungent properties, induces 

 healthy action in the part, and is peculiarly adapted 



