DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 373 



Orookedfoot is that condition in which one side of the wall is higher 

 than the other. If the inside wall is the higher, the ankle is thrown 

 outward, so that the fetlock joints are abnormally wide apart and the 

 toes close together. Animals with this deformity are "pigeon-toed," 

 and are prone to interfere, the inside toe striking the opposite fetlock. 

 If but one foot is affected, the liability to interfere is still greater, for 

 the reason that the fetlock of the perfect leg is more near the center 

 plane. 



When the outside heel is the higher the ankle is thrown in and the 

 toe turns out. Horses with such feet interfere with the heel. If but 

 one foot is so affected, the liability to interfere is less than where both 

 feet are affected, for the reason that the ankle of the perfect leg is not 

 so near to the center plane. Such animals are especially liable to 

 stumbling and to lameness from injury to the ligaments of the fetlock 

 joints. The deformity is to be overcome by such shoeing as will equal- 

 ize the disparity in length of walls, and by proper boots to protect the 

 fetlocks from interfering. 



INTEKFERIXG. 



An animal is said to interfere when one foot strikes the opposite leg, 

 as it passes by, during locomotion. The inner surface of the fetlock 

 joint is the part most subject to this injury, although, under certain 

 conditions, it may happen to any part of the ankle. It is seen more 

 often in the hind than in the fore legs. Interfering causes a bruise of 

 the skin and deeper tissues, generally accompanied b}^ an abrasion of 

 the surface. It may cause lameness, dangerous tripping, and thickening 

 of the injured parts. 



Causes. — Faulty conformation is the most prolific cause of interfer- 

 ing. When the bones of the leg are so united that the toe of the foot 

 turns in (pigeontoed), or when the fetlock joints are close together 

 and the toe turns out, when the leg is so deformed that the whole foot 

 and ankle turn either in or out, interfering is almost sure to follow. 

 It may happen, also, when the feet grow too long, from defective shoe- 

 ing, rough or slippery roads, from the exhaustion of labor or sick- 

 ness, swelling of the leg, high knee action, fast work, and because the 

 chest or hips are too narrow. 



Si/mptoms. — Generally, the evidences of interfering are easily 

 detected, for the parts are tender, swollen, and the skin broken. But 

 very often, especiallj^ in trotters, the flat surface of the hoof strikes 

 the fetlock without evident injury, and attention is directed to these 

 parts only by the occasional tripping and unsteady gait. In such 

 cases proof of the cause may be had by walking and trotting the ani- 

 mal, after first painting the inside toe and quarter of the suspected 

 foot with a thin coating of chalk, charcoal, mud, or paint. 



Treat^nent. — When the trouble is due to deformity or faulty confor- 

 mation, it may not be possible to overcome the defect. 



