DISEASES OF THE FEET. 89 



increased until the animal shows no further sigD of trouble. If, after 

 five or six days, pronounced symptoms of recovery are not apparent, 

 apply a stiff blister of cantharides around the coronet, repeating the 

 blister if necessary. In addition to the local treatment, nitrate of 

 potash (saltpeter), in doses of 2 to 4 ounces, may be given three 

 times a day. If the horse is constipated, give 1 quart of raw lin- 

 seed oil. The subacute and chronic forms may be relieved by soften- 

 ing the foot as in "Dry feet," by occasional blistering and by intelli- 

 gent shoeing. 



SEEDY TOE. 



Seedy toe is a mealy condition of the inner wall of the hoof, the 

 white line, and sometimes the sole. It is most frequently seen in 

 the front feet. 



Causes. — Undue pressure, clips on shoes, or the result of laminitis. 



Treatment. — Pare the wall of the cavity until healthy horn is 

 reached and pack with tar and oakum. Stimulate healthy growth 

 of horn by the application of a cantharides blister at the coronet. 

 Omit the clip in reshoeing. 



CONTRACTED FEET. 



Contracted feet is an unnatural shrinking or narrowing of the feet 

 at the heels. Most often seen in the front feet. 



Causes. — Lack of exercise; lack of moisture: thrush; shoes with 

 bearing web inclining inward at the heels. The practice of using the 

 knife to "open the heels" usually produces this trouble. 



Treatment. — Ascertain the cause and remove it if possible. The 

 remedy is to secure normal pressure on the frog, bars, and heels. If 

 the feet are extremely dry and hard they may be softened by standing 

 the animal in moist clay or in water. If the character of the ground 

 will permit let the horse <:<> barefoot : if not, shoe with the tip, prefer- 

 ably; otherwise, with the bar shoe. 



DRY FEET. 



Soften the hoofs by thorough soaking in water and then apply 



cosmoline or linseed oil to prevent the water from evaporating. This 



should be done daily for a week or two. A thick paste of ground flax- 



1 and water, packed into the cavity of the foot between the 



branches of the shoe, or a packing of moist clay, will keep the foot soft. 



COFFIN-JOINT LAMENESS 



Sprain of the coffin joint results from slipping, stepping upon a 

 rolling stone, stepping into a hole. etc. 



Symptoms. — Shortened gait; lameness and pointing of diseased 

 foot ; heat over the region of the coffin joint; tenderness on pressure. 



