DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



223 



LAMENESS FROM DISEASE OF THE PYEAMIDAL PROCESS 

 OF THE OS PEDIS. 



This exists in the fore or hind foot, and is caused by blows 

 upon the front of the coronet, or from over-extension of the 

 extensor tendon by the use 

 of high calks. 



Symptoims. — Swelling i n 

 front of the coronet, varying 

 in size from that of a hazel 

 nut to a pigeon's egg, with 

 lameness. The horse puts 

 the heel down first, and takes 

 the foot up quickly, as soon 

 as the toe comes in contact 

 with the ground. There will 

 be pain on pressure, heat, 

 sloughing of the skin, leaving 

 a wound that heals with diffi- 

 culty. 



Tkeatmext. — Low - heeled 

 bar shoe, fomentations, poul- 

 tices, rest; succeeded by the ammoniacal liniment, and in ex- 

 treme cases the cautery. 



OSSIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGES. 



Side Boxes. — This condition is commonly met with in heavy 

 horses, and in the fore feet. It rarely occurs in the hind feet. 



The lateral cartilages are two thin plates of fibro-cartilage, of 

 irregular quadrangular form, surrounding the wings of the os 

 pedis, which in virtue of their elasticity assist the sensitive frog 

 and.soft structures of the foot in regaining their natural posi- 

 tion after being pressed u})ward and outwards by the weight of 

 the animal. They may be easily felt on the sides of tlie foot, 

 just above the coronet, as two yielding pads. AVhen these be- 



Fig. 59— Disease of the Pyramidal 

 Process of the Os Pedis. 



