788 



DISEASES AND THEIE TEEATMENT. 



"That is my idea," said he, "but while in New York City, a 

 man came along and persuaded the president of one of the horse 

 i-ailroad companies, where I was at the time employed, to put thin- 

 heeled shoes on all his horses." 



I replied, " That would be all 

 right, and an advantage for the 

 average of horses; but there 

 woidd be found an occasional 

 one, perhaps one in every ten 

 or twelve of them, that would 

 grow decidedly lame by such 

 shoeing; for if there was the 

 least inflammation or weakness 

 in the navicular joint or sur- 

 rounding parts, giving such sud- 

 den and violent contact of the 

 frog upon hard-paved streets 

 would aggravate the irritation 

 and produce direct lameness. 

 Certainly the heels of such 

 horses should be kept somewhat 

 raised until the irritation passed 

 ofl", when the heels might be 

 gradually lowered sufiiciently to 

 bring about a good condition of 

 circulation." 



He stated in reply that about 

 that proportion of the horses 

 did become seriously lame; still 

 they were worked right along 

 without any regard to their condition. When in Buffalo, N. Y., 

 I became owner of a horse that was very sore and lame, in con- 

 sequence of excessive driving during the race week in that city, 

 in conveying passengers to and fi'om the track. He had been so 

 shod as to let the frog come directly upon the gi-ound. I found 

 upon examination that the heels had been so bruised as to cause 

 suppuration between the sensible and insensible frog, which was 

 the cause of the trouble, and practically spoiled the horse. Now, 

 putting on thin-heeled shoes would have been a,ll right for ordin- 



FiG. 694. — Attachment of perforans 



tendon to bottom of pedal-bone. 



From manikin of the foot. 



