DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 379 



possible, while the toe of the hind foot should project well over the 

 hind shoe. When circumstances will permit of their use the fore feet 

 may be shod with the " tips" instead of the common shoe, as described 

 in treatment for contracted heels. 



CALK WOU^"DS. 



Horses wearing shoes with sharp calks are liable to wounds of the 

 coronary region, either from tlampling on themselves or on each 

 other. These injuries are most common in heavy draft horses, 

 especially on rough roads and slipper}- streets. The fore feet are 

 more liable than the hind ones, and the seat of injury is commonly on 

 the quarters. In the hind feet the wound often results from the ani- 

 mal resting with the heel of one foot set directly over the front of the 

 other. In these cases the injury is generall}^ close to the horn, and 

 often involves the coronar}- band, the sensitive laminae, the extensor 

 tendon, and even the coffinbone. 



Treatment. — Preventive measures include the use of boots to pro- 

 tect the coronet of the hind foot, and the use of a blunt calk on the 

 outside heel of the fore shoe, since this is generally the offending 

 instrument where the fore feet are injured. If the wound is not deep, 

 and the soreness slight, cold-water bandages and a light protective 

 dressing, such as carbolized cosmoline, will be all that is needed. 

 Where the injury is deep, followed by inflammation and suppuration 

 of the coronary band, lateral cartilages, sensitive laminae, etc., active 

 measures must be resorted to. Cold, astringent baths, made by adding 

 2 ounces of sulphate of iron to 1 gallon of water, should be used, fol- 

 lowed by poultices if it is necessaiy to hasten the cleansing of the 

 wound by stimulating the sloughing process. Where the wound is 

 deep between the horn and skin, especially over the anterior tendon, 

 the horn should l>e cut away so that the injured tissues may be exposed. 

 The subsequent treatment in these cases should follow the directions 

 laid down in the article on toe cracks. 



FROSTBITES. 



Excepting the ears, the feet and legs are about the only part of the 

 horse liable to become frostbitten. The cases most comraonlj^ seen 

 are found in cities, especially among car horses, where salt is used 

 for the purpose of melting the snow on curves and switches. This 

 mixture of snow and salt is splashed over the feet and legs, rapidly 

 lowering the temperature of the parts to the freezing point. In 

 mountainous districts, where the snowfall is heavy and the cold often 

 intense, frostbites are not uncommon even among animals running at 

 large. 



Symptoms. — AVhen the frosting is slight the skin becomes pale and 

 bloodless, followed soon after by intense redness, heat, pain, and swell- 



