548 PUNCTURED FOOT, OR PRICK. 



shoe tacked on. No matter whether suppuration has com- 

 menced or not, the above solution should be emploj^ed 

 till the opening has healed. A very deep posterior punc- 

 ture may extend itself into the flexor tendon, and is always 

 productive of very great irritation and inflammation. In 

 such cases enlarge the opening, and treat in a similar way 

 with the boot and the weaker solution of chloride of zinc ; 

 observing, that if prior to suppuration the inflammation run 

 very high, or the pain be excessive, a little blood may be 

 taken from the toe and the foot, without removing the 

 previous dressing placed in a poultice : examine the w-ound 

 to see it contains no foreign body, and enlarge the opening 

 whether it does or not. A puncture of the sensitive sole 

 may be treated by cutting away the horn below and imme- 

 diately near to the injury, and then dressing the wound 

 with a pledget of tow smeared wnth tar, and kept close by 

 means of splints and stopping. Should, however, suppura- 

 tion start up, remove the above, put the foot in a poultice, 

 and afterwards dress with the solution of chloride of zinc in 

 the previous mentioned manner ; when, there being a de- 

 pending orifice, the wound will do well. 



But the most usual cases of punctures are those which 

 arise from a w rong direction of a nail in shoeing, and which 

 either presses on, or actually wounds, the sensitive laminae. 

 This is commonly known to the workman at the time by 

 a peculiar sensation arising from the diflerent resistance 

 occasioned, or by the flinching of the horse. The best smith 

 that ever lived may meet with this accident ; the slightest 

 movement of the horse may occasion it. The w^onder is, the 

 men perform a hazardous and delicate office so frequently with 

 so few mishaps. Many horse proprietors, however, think 

 differently, and by venting their ignorance and bad temper, 

 make the smith unwilling to acknowledge when a nail is 

 driven the wrong way. Concealment, in this case, is all 

 that is to be feared. Hide the fact the puncture may sup- 

 purate, and the most fearful destruction to the foot ensue : 

 make it known, and with proper treatment there is an end 

 of the aflkir. Nineteen horses out of twenty that are pricked 

 do well ; but the smith, rather than face the bad temper or 

 abuse of the owner, conceals the circumstance, and runs 

 the chance of ultimate discovery. To prevent the worst, and 



