324 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



mentous parts a caustic is the best application. I prefer lunar 

 caustic, or nitrate of silver, but in some situations a fluid caustic, 

 such as muriate of antimony, may be better. If these wounds 

 are not immediately attended to, and properly treated, a serious 

 and obstinate lameness Is often the consequence.* 



On Lameness from Bruises of the Foot hy Stones, Gravel, Sfc. 



Cases of this kind are by no means uncommon, and are 

 generally caused by the pressure of the shoe, particularly In 

 horses with thin flat soles. Horses, also, with good soles, are 

 occasionally lame from this cause, through the injudicious 

 management of the smith, Avho, being generally ambitious of 

 improving the natural form of the foot, pares away so much of 

 the sole for this purpose, that there is not enough left to defend 

 the sensible parts from the blows and pressure to which It Is 

 necessarily exposed ; for. If the shoe Is not made so flat as to 

 bear on this thin part, any vacancy that Is left Is soon filled with 

 dirt or gravel In travelling : and the same effect Is produced as 

 If the shoe Avere in contact with It. The method of detecting 

 and treating this kind of lameness Is similar to that we have 

 recommended in wounds of the foot ; that Is, by pressing it, or 

 striking it lightly with a hammer ; and giving free vent to any 

 matter that may be confined. 



A horse is sometimes observed to be tender from this cause, 

 immediately after shoeing, particularly In the fore feet ; and It 

 will generally be found that the tenderness arises from the toe 

 having been pared too much. If the shoe does not press on the 

 thin part, the horse should be allowed to rest a few days, and a 

 little tar ointment should be applied to the sole, by which It will 

 acquire Its usual firmness ; but If the shoe Is bearing on the 

 sole. It must, of course, be taken off" and altered. 



I have known many cases of lameness, from matter forming 

 under the sensible sole, without any apparent cause. It Is pro- 

 bable, however, that, in almost all these cases, It was occasioned 

 by a bruise. I have known It happen In several instances at 

 grass; also In the stable, when the horse has been at rest; or 

 while he has been doing his ordinary work. 



The following cases are given as examples of such lameness, 

 and of the manner in which they were treated. 



Case 1. About forty cavalry horses were turned to grass In 

 soft meadow ground, their shoes having previously been taken 

 off, and the fore feet pared. About two or three weeks after, 



* I h<ave cured several cases of this kind by the application of corrosive 

 sublimate and spirits of wine to the wound, and keeping the foot in 2)oultice 

 for some time. When permanent lameness has succeeded, the horse has been 

 rendered useful by the nerve operation. — Ed. 



