942 



DISEASES AND THEIE TEEATMEJVIT. 



Fig. 806. —Showing 

 bones of the foot. 



Accidents and injuries of the foot constitute the principal 



bruises from stepping on stones, sharp bodies, treads, etc., besides 



causes of lameness. It is liable to injury 

 from various causes, as occasionally partici- 

 pating in constitutional derangement; but by 

 far the greatest amount of injury arises, 

 directly or indirectly, from shoeing. 



Sometimes, from carelessness, a nail pen- 

 etrates the sensitive part of the foot (usually 

 called the quick). Sometimes the nail itself 

 does not penetrate, but is driven so close as 

 to cause the wall, in its course, to press on 

 and bruise the quick, (something like Fig. 

 807,) giving rise to inflammation, and usually 

 terminating in suppuration. To illustrate, a 

 fine horse that had been lame for a number 

 of days was recently brought in from the 

 country to be examined by the veterinary 

 surgeon here, who informed the writer that 



upon investigation, he found that the lameness was caused by 



three nails being driven too near or into the quick. 

 Serious trouble is also liable to be caused 



by driving the nails deep and clinching 



them tightly, as this will bend the nails 



more or less inw^ard upon the soft parts, 



causing a binding, uncomfortable pressure 



that produces a soreness, and sometimes 



very serious inflammation. 



Symptoms. — Lameness may appear in 



a day or two, sometimes not for a week. 



The foot is found to be hot and tender, 



and the least tap with the hammer causes 



pain; in moving, the animal sets the foot 



down so as to throw the pressure off the ^^^- ^*^^- 



tender part, and when standing he will rest the foot. Sometimes, 



the leg swells considerably ; the swelling is sometimes painful, 



and is very apt to mislead the inexperienced. 



Treatment. — Remove the shoe, and having with the h'ammer 



or pincers discovered the faulty nail, thin the sole around it, and 



