INJURIES m AND DISEASES OF, THE FOOT 

 OF THE HORSE. 



i88. The foot of the horse is at all times very liable to injury and 

 disease ; and in all cases of lameness, the foot should be examined to 

 make sure that all is right there, even though the leg be broken. 

 The diseases or injuries to which the feet of horses are most subject 

 are pyichs, corns, qiiittov, sidebones, sandcvack, seedy toe, false quarter, thrush, 

 canker, treads, over-reaches, groggy lameness, and laniinitis. 



189. A Prick from Shoeing, or otherwise.— This is the most 

 common injury to the foot. In shoeing, if a nail should unfortunately 

 be driven into the sensitive part of the foot, the owner ought at once 

 to be told of the misfortune. At the same time the shoe must be 

 removed, and the foot put into a bran poultice, made with cold water, 

 and kept constantly wet for a few days, when the part generally heals 

 without any bad effect. But as a rule the nail is withdrawn, and no 

 mention is made of the matter ; with the result that the horse is put to 

 work, and, in the course of two or three days, becomes lame. The 

 injury may be detected by tapping the part with a hammer, or by 

 removing the shoe, and pressing the foot with a pair of pincers, the 

 animal flinching when the inj iired part is touched. The sole must then be 

 carefully dressed away, when a dirty, thin, dark-coloured fluid generally 

 will be met with (commonly called gravel), at the bottom of the nail- 

 hole. If left alone too long, this fluid sometimes works under the sole, 

 and, if not liberated, will find its way out at the top of the band of the 

 hoof, or at the bulbs of the heel. After the escape of the matter, the 

 foo.t should be placed in a cold bran-poultice, to which a tablespoonful of 

 carbolic acid has been added, until all the inflammation has subsided ; 

 then, after dressing with tow and tar ointment {see Sandcrack, par. 194), 

 and protecting with a leather sole, the shoe may be put on. Sometimes 

 the nails are driven too near, causing pressure of the sensitive parts 

 on touching, and making the animal step short, or decidedly lame. 



