DISEASES OF THE H0B8E. 401 



The lameness from punctured wounds, accompanied b}^ suiDpuration, 

 is generally severe, the patient often refusing to use the affected mem- 

 ber at all. The pain being lancinating in character, he stands with the 

 injured foot at rest or constantly moves it back and forth. In other 

 cases the patient lies down most of the time with the feet outstretched^ 

 the breathing is rapid, the pulse fast, the temperature elevated, and 

 the body covered with patches of sweat. 



When the plantar aponeurosis is injured, the pus escapes with diffi- 

 cult}' and the wound shows no signs of healing; the whole foot is hot 

 and ver}^ painful. If the puncture involves the sesamoid sheath, the 

 synovial fluid escapes. At first this fluid is pure, like joint water, bufe 

 later becomes mixed with the products of suppuration and loses its 

 clear amber color. Suppuration generally extends up the course of 

 the flexor tendon, an abscess forms in the hollow of the heel, and finally 

 opens somewhere below the fetlock joint. The whole coronet is more 

 or less swollen, the discharge is profuse and often mixed with blood, 

 jat the suffering is greatly relieved from the moment the abscess opens. 



If the puncture reaches the navicular bone the lameness is intense- 

 from the beginning; but the only certain way to determine the exist- 

 ence of this complication is by the use of the probe, and unless therfr 

 is a free escape of synovia it must be used with the greatest of care^ 

 else the coffin joint may be opened. 



If the cofiin joint has been penetrated, either b}" the offending instru- 

 ment or by the process of suppuration, acute inflammation of the joint 

 follows, accompanied by high fever, loss of appetite, etc. The ankle; 

 and coronet arc now greatly swollen, and drops}' of the leg to the knee- 

 or hock, or even to the body, often follows. If the process of sup- 

 puration continues, small abscesses appear at intervals on different 

 parts of the coronet, the patient rapidly loses flesh, and ma}^ die from 

 intense suffering and blood poisoning. In other cases the suppuration 

 soon disappears, and recovery is effected by the joint becoming stiff 

 (anclndosis). 



When the wound is forward, near the toe, and deep enough to injure 

 the cofiinbone, caries always results. The presence of the dead pieces 

 of bone can be determined by the use of the probe; the bone feels 

 rough and gritty. Furthermore, there is no disposition upon the part 

 of the wound to heal. 



Besides the complications above mentioned, others equally as seri- 

 ous may be met with. The tendons may soften and rupture, the hoof 

 may slough off, quittors develop, or sidebones and ringbones grow. 

 Finall}', laminitis of the opposite foot may happen if the patient per- 

 sists in standing, or lockjaw may cause early death. 



Treatment. — In all cases the horn around the seat of injur}' should 

 be thinned down, a free opening made for the escape of the products 

 of suppuration, and the foot placed in a poultice. If the injury is- 

 14384—03 26 



