IGG NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



terizcd by the foot becoming' narrow in its posterior portion. One 

 or both of the quarters may be affected. It is principally 

 observed in the forefeet. 



The causes of contraction of the foot may be classed as 

 predisposing, secondary and exciting. It may accompany chronic 

 diseases of the foot, snch as navicular disease and side-bones. 

 Weak heels is the principal predisposing factor. Any condition 

 that tends to prevent the hoof from_ taking up moisture, or causes 

 it to lose moisture, may cause the horn to lose flexibility and 

 contract. This is one of the reasons why horses that are worked 

 continuously in cities, or used for driving, frequently develop 

 contracted feet. Ill-fitting shoes, excessive rasping of the wall 

 and bars, and allowing the shoes to stay on the foot for too long 

 a time are responsible to a very large degree for this disorder 

 of the foot (Fig. 40). 



The following local symptoms may occur: The wall of the 

 foot at the quarters may ajipear drawn in at its superior or 

 inferior portion. Sometimes one or both quarters are perpen- 

 dicular, or nearly so. The foot then appears too narrow at the 

 heel, too elongated and less rounded than normal. The changes 

 in the appearance of the inferior surface of the hoof vary. 

 The changes here may be so slight that they are not noticed. 

 In well advanced and neglected cases the arch of the sole is 

 increased, the frog is narrow and atroj)hied and the bars high 

 and perpendicular. Corns may accompany the contraction. 

 The foot may feel feverish. The animal may manifest the pain 

 in the feet when standing at rest by pointing and changing their 

 position, ^^^len lameness is present, it may resemble that occur- 

 ring in inilammation of lateral cartilages and navicular disease. 



Frcvenlivc treatment is of the greatest importance. This 

 consists in giving the feet an opportunity to take up moisture 

 when they are exposed to abnormal conditions and become fever- 

 ish. Under such conditions, it is advisable to occasionally 

 remove the shoes and turn the animal into a pasture or lot. It 



