INJUEIES CONNECTED WITH SHOEING, ETC. 321 



large bran poultice. It is a common practice with smiths, on 

 these occasions, to pour oil of turpentine into the wound ; and, 

 sometimes, in order to increase its power, they set it on fire ; 

 after this the shoe is put on, and the bottom of the foot filled 

 up with tow dipped in hot mixture of lard and turpentine. In 

 trifling wounds of the foot, the horse often gets well under this 

 treatment, though more slowly, perhaps, than he would had 

 these remedies been omitted. It may be proper, however, to 

 pour a little Friar's balsam into the wound, which fonus a sort 

 of coating, and may serve to exclude air and moisture from it, 

 and thereby prevent the formation of matter : with the same 

 view, the cavity that has been made by removing the horn may 

 be lightly filled with tow dipped in digestive ointment. But in 

 wounds of a more serious nature there is generally a high degree 

 of inflammation, sometimes so considerable as to excite fever; 

 and, in a few instances, it has been followed even by locked jaw. 

 All stimulants should here be avoided, until the inflammation 

 has subsided, and matter is formed, which invariably haj^pens in 

 wounds of this description. 



The first thing to be done in these cases is to enlarge the 

 opening made by the nail, and pare away the horny sole, on the 

 same side, until it yields to the pressure of the thumb ; a large 

 poultice is then to be applied. After two or three days matter 

 will have been formed ; and upon pressing the sole, near the 

 wound, a little dark-coloured fluid will be seen issuing from it. 

 On introducing a probe into the wound, it will be found to pass 

 under the horny sole, sometimes to a considerable extent ; and 

 so far as the horny and sensible sole are separated is the former 

 to be removed. A dressing of tar ointment is then to be applied ; 

 by means of which a new horny sole will be gradually produced. 

 Should the matter have penetrated to the coronet, the same 

 operation and treatment are necessary, excepting the poultice : 

 for, when the disease has proceeded thus far, -we may be sure 

 that there is matter confined under the horny sole. The sore or 

 opening on the coronet Is to be dressed with solution of blue 

 vitriol or tincture of myrrh. After being dressed for three or 

 four days with either of these preparations. Friar's balsam and 

 a plaster of digestive ointment may be used. When the nail 

 has been driven so near the sensible parts as to cause pain by 

 its pressure, inflammation comes on slowly and gradually : and 

 sometimes the lameness does not appear until several days after 

 the shoe has been applied. This may more properly be termed 

 a bruise of the sensible parts of the foot, than a wound ; but it 

 pi'oduces the same effects, which are inflammation and suppura- 

 tion. This kind of lameness comes on gradually ; and Is often 

 so inconsiderable at first, that it is not observed by a careless 

 rider. When the smith is consulted on these occasions, he sel- 



Y 



