DISEASES OF THE FEET. 87 



the upper end of the crack must be carefully observed to see that 

 the new horn grows down strong and smooth. In time the crack 

 will disappear at the lower edge of the wall. If the sensitive lamina' 

 have been exposed by this operation, the parts should be washed 

 with a. solution of creolin, 1 to 50, and the wound should be dusted 

 with acetanilid and covered with a pad of oakum held in place by 

 a boot or bandage. In a few days a thin layer of horn will be thrown 

 out. covering the sensitive laminae. The horse can then generally 

 be put to work. 



After a quarter crack has been trimmed out, the horse should be 

 shod with a bar shoe, the wall underneath the quarter crack being 

 cut away so that it will not come in contact with the shoe. 



In a case of toe crack the operation is the same. In shoeing, the 

 wall is cut away at the toe to prevent pressure. 



PUNCTURE <)F THE SOLE AND FROG — PRICKS IX SHOEING. 



A puncture of the sole or frog is usually caused by a horse stepping 

 on a nail, a piece of broken glass, or other sharp object. If the wound 

 enters the soft structures of the foot, it results in lameness and the 

 formation of pus. 



Pricks in shoeing are of two kinds: First, when the nail is driven 

 into the soft structures, and, second, when it is driven too close, 

 causing a bulging of the inner layer of horn, which is forced in upon 

 the sensitive laminae. In the first case the horse goes lame imme- 

 diately: in the second case lameness may not appear for several days 

 or weeks. 



To detect a punctured wound of the foot remove the shoe, exam- 

 ining each nail as it is withdrawn for traces of moisture. Then 

 tot with the pinchers. When the sore spot is pressed, the horse 

 will flinch. 



Treatment. —Open the wound and let out any pus that may have 

 formed; wash out with a solution of creolin, 1 to 25, or of carbolic- 

 acid, 1 to 20. Unless the pus has a good outlet, it will burrow into 

 the surrounding tissues and quittor or canker may follow. More- 

 over, there is always danger of tetanus in all cases of punctured 

 wounds, especially in the feet. The germ of this disease is present 

 in nearly all soils and is very liable to be carried into the wound 

 upon the nail or other object. After the wound has been opened 

 uj) and washed out, the foot should be placed in a hot flaxseed poul- 

 tice, a fresh one being applied three or four times a day, and the 

 parts washed out after each poultice, as in the first instance. The 

 treatment should be continued until inflammation is reduced and 

 the formation of pus has ceased. The hole can then be plugged 

 with oakum and tar. the shoe reset, and the horse put to work. 



