PRICK OR WOUND IN THE SOLE OR CRUST. 315 



closely, or the pressure of the shoe on the sole, or the introduction of gravel or stones 

 between the shoe and the sole. 



The author subjoins the mode of cure in this disease, as it- has been practised by 

 two veterinary surgeons. They are both excellent, and, so far as can well be the 

 case, satisfactory. 



Mr. Percivall says: — "The ordinary mode of cure consists in the introduction of 

 caustic into the sinus ; and so long as the cartilage preserves its integrity — by which 

 I mean, is free from caries — this is perhaps the most prompt and etlectual mode of 

 proceeding. The farrier's practice is to mix about half a drachm of corrosive sub- 

 limate in powder with twice or thrice the quantity of flour, and make them into a 

 paste with water. This he takes up by little at a time with the point of his probe, 

 and works it about into the sinus until the paste appears rising in the orifice above 

 After this is done he commonly has the horse walked about for an hour or two, or 

 even sent to slow work again, which produces a still more effectual solution of the 

 caustic, at the same time that it tends greatly to its uniform and thorough diffusion 

 into every recess and winding of the sinus. The consequence of this sharp caustic 

 dressing is a general slough from the sinus. Every part of its, interior surface is 

 destroyed, and the dead particles become agglutinated, and cast off along with the 

 discharges in the form of a dark, firm curdled mass, which the farrier calls the 

 core ; and so it commonly proves, for granulations follow close behind it, and fill up 

 the sinus."* 



The other mode of treatment is that of Mr. Newport, a surgeon of long standing: 

 — " After the shoe has been removed, thin the sole until it will yield to the pressure 

 of the thumb ; then cut the under parts of the wall in an oblique direction from the 

 heel to the anterior part, immediately under the seat of complaint, and only as far as 

 it extends, and rasp the side of the wall thin enough to give way to the pressure of 

 the over-distended parts, and put on a bar shoe rather elevated from the frog. As- 

 certain with a probe the direction of the sinuses, and introduce into them a saturated 

 solution of sulphate of zinc, by means of a small syringe. Place over this dressincr 

 the common cataplasm, or the turpentine ointment, and renew the application every 

 twenty-four hours. I have frequently found three or four such applications complete 

 a cure. I should recommend that when the probe is introduced, in order to ascer- 

 tain the progress of cure, that it be gently and carefully used, otherwise it may break 

 down the new-formed lymph. I have found the solution very valuable, where the 

 synovial fluid has escaped, but not to be used if the inflammation of the parts is 

 great."! 



PRICK OR WOUND IN THE SOLE OR CRUST. 



This is the most frequent cause of quitter. It is evident that the sole is very liable 

 to be wounded by nails, pieces of glass, or even sharp flints. Every part of the 

 foot is subject to injuries of this description. The usual place at which these wounds 

 are found is in the hollow between the bars and the frog, or in the frog itself. In 

 the fore feet the injury will be generally recognized on the inner quarter, and on the 

 hind feet near the toe. In fact these are the thinnest parts of the fore and hind feet. 

 Much more frequently the laminae are wounded by the nail in shoeing ; or if the nail 

 does not penetrate through the internal surface of the crust, it is driven so close to it 

 that it presses upon the fleshy parts beneath, and causes irritation and inflammation, 

 and at length ulceration. When a horse becomes suddenly lame, after the legs have 

 been carefully examined, and no cause of lameness appears in them, the shoe should 

 be taken off. In many cases the offending substance will be immediately detected, 

 or the additional heat felt in some part of the foot will point out the seat of injury ; 

 or, if the crust is rapped with the hammer all round, the flinching of the horse will 

 discover it ; or pressure with the pincers will render it evident. 



When the shoe is removed for this examination the smith should never be permit- 

 ted to wrench it off, but each nail should be drawn separately, and examined as it is 

 drawn, when some moisture appearing upon it will not unfrequently reveal the spo* 

 at which matter has been thrown out. 



Sudden lameness occurring within two or three days after the horse has oeea shod 



* Percivall's Hippopathology, vol. i. p. 248. 

 t The Veterinarian vol. i. p. 329. 



