152 



A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



hardly walk. Varying with the degree of the disease, the 

 connection between the secretive and horny portion of the 

 toe is more or less obliterated. The form of the hoof changes 

 and the heel appears higher and more contracted. Rings 

 form on the walls of the hoof, coming close together at the 

 toe; the hoof is hot and feverish. The sensitive part of the 

 toe, being exposed by the degeneration of the horny struc- 

 ture, is likely to develop horn tumors which are very painful 

 and may result in chronic disorder. Early treatment by a 

 veterinary surgeon may cut short the attack and prevent 

 changes in the form and condition of the hoof. A physic 

 of Epsom salts, one or two pounds, should be given. The 

 horse should be led to a stream of running water and left to 

 stand in it at least two hours ; and then one hour out. Alter- 

 nate this process several times for a whole day. If this can 

 not be done, use sawed-off barrels or tubs and stand the horse 

 in cold water as described above. 



Lameness. On account of the unusual exposure to strains, 

 the horse is subject to more forms of lameness than any of 

 our domestic animals. Lameness may be due to strains of 

 the muscles, ligaments, or the joint capsules in any part of 

 the leg, shoulders, or pelvic girdles. Usually it is a very dif- 

 ficult matter to indicate the exact cause of lameness in a 

 horse, and we can not describe the veterinarian's system of 

 ascertaining this. Some of the forms of lameness may be 

 mentioned very briefly: 



a. Splints are the bony enlargements which lie between 

 the knees and fetlock joints on the inside of the legs. These 

 may become a cause of lameness. 



