THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 235 



ness, apparently trivial, might . prevent much of the chronic 

 lameness that we now see, and perhaps prevent many a spavin 

 and ringbone, and other deformities known to originate in liga- 

 mentary lameness. Lameness may arise from a great variety 

 of causes. A horse with flat soles may be shod so that the sole 

 rests on the shoe, and while travelling on soft ground he may go 

 without the least sign of lameness ; but the moment he comes on 

 to the pavements, he all at once becomes dead lame from 

 bruise of the sole, or he may get a small pebble between the sole 

 and shoe, and thus produce the same result. A horse may, in 

 travelling, pick zip a nail, or insinuate some foreign body into the 

 sensitive part of the foot ; if so, he soon shows it by limping : he 

 may not, however, limp in a slow walk, but shows it more when 

 urged to a trot. Knowing how apt horses are to pick up for- 

 eign bodies in the road, should an animal become lame all at 

 once, the driver ought to dismount and see if he can discover the 

 lame limb. If there is sufficient pain present to arrest the ani- 

 mal's attention, he will generally endeavor to show it by some 

 peculiar motion, such as pointing the lame foot before its fellow, 

 catching it up, or flexing it. Having discovered in which limb 

 the lameness exists, the foot must be carefully examined. By 

 scraping out the parts, any foreign body between the shoe and 

 sole can be easily got rid of, and thus the cause is removed ; but 

 if a nail should be discovered, it is not so easy to remove it, for 

 it often requires some tact, and strong pincers. We remember 

 being called once to draw a nail which had previously resisted 

 the efforts of a strong man. The horse had to be cast, and it was 

 found necessary to cut round the nail, so as to enlarge the exter- 

 nal orifice. On withdrawing it, the point was found to have been 

 bent, probably by coming in contact with the coffin bone ; it had 

 thus formed a sort of hook, which explained the reason why it 

 could not be got out until the external wound was dilated. The 

 horse was a long while ere he recovered, for a fungous growth 

 was continually sprouting through the orifice of the sole, which 

 made the cure very tedious. The nail being removed., we gen- 

 erally dress with fir balsam, or mixed soap and sugar, — which- 

 ever happens to be at hand, — and bind some oakum on the part, 

 to keep out the dirt. The subsequent treatment will depend upon 



