466 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUbTRY. 



removed. If, when shoeing, a nail is driven into the "quick" (sensi- 

 tive laminte) and allowed to remain, the horse gradually evinces more 

 pain I'j-om day to day; but if the nail has at once been removed b}' the 

 smith, lamenofes does not, as a rule, show itself for some days; or, if 

 the nail is simply driven "too close," not actually pricking the horse, 

 he may not show any lameness for a week or even much longer. At 

 this point it is due the blacksmith to sa}' that, considering how thin 

 the walls of some feet are, the uneasiness of many horses Avhile shoe- 

 ing, the ease with which a nail is diverted from its course by striking 

 an old piece of nail left in the wall, or from the nail itself splitting, 

 the wonder is not that so many horses are pricked or nails driven "too 

 close," but rather that man}'^ more are not so injured. It is not always 

 carelessness or ignorance on the part of the smith, by any means, that 

 is to account for this accident. Bad and careless shoers we do meet 

 •with, but let us be honest and say that the rarity of these accidents 

 points rather to the general care and attention given b}^ these much- 

 abused mechanics. 



From the construction of the horse's foot (being incased in an imper- 

 meable horny box), and from the elasticity of the horn closing the 

 orifice, punctured wounds of the feet are almost always productive 

 of lameness. Inflammation results, and as there is no relief afforded 

 by swelling and no escape for the product of inflammation, this matter 

 must and does burrow between the sole or wall and the sensitive parts 

 within it until it generally opens "between hair and hoof." "We can 

 thus see why pain is so much more severe, why tetanus (lockjaw) more 

 frequently follows wounds of the feet, and why, from the extensive, 

 or at times complete, separation and "casting" of the hoof, these 

 wounds must alwaj^s be regarded with grave apprehension. 



Symptoms and treatment. — A practice which, if never deviated 

 from — that of picking up each foot, cleaning the sole, and thoroughly 

 examining the foot each and every time the horse comes into the 

 stable — will enable us to reduce the serious consequences of punctured 

 wounds of the feet to the minimum. If the wound has resulted from 

 pricking, lameness follows soon after shoeing; if from the nails being 

 driven too close, it usually appears from four to five days or a week 

 after receiving the shoe. We should always inquire as to the time of 

 shoeing, examine the shoe carefully, and see whether it has been par- 

 tially pulled and the horse stepped back upon some of the nails or the 

 clip. The pain from these wounds is lancinating; the horse is seen 

 to raise and lower the limb or hold it from the ground altogether; often 

 ho points the foot, flexes the leg, and knuckles at the fetlock. Swell- 

 ing of the fetlock and back tendons is also frequently seen and is apt 

 to mislead us. The foot must be carefully examined, and this can not 

 be properl}^ done without removing the shoe. The nails should be 

 drawn separately- and carefull}' examined. If there is no escape of 



