DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 385 



allowed to grow too long without support from the sole, or has 

 been rasped till it dries or withers; uneven bearing of the shoe; 

 all undue paring of heels and quarters contribute to produce 

 absorption and rounding of the naturally sharp border of the 

 coffin-bone at its heels, bony deposits above and below, indura- 

 tion, softening, ulceration or death of more or less of the bony 

 tissue, and permanent unsoundness. 



The existence of such distortions must be ascertained from 

 the unnatural appearance of the hoof ; the signs of a horny 

 tumour ; a rugged unhealthy hoof-wall ; a flat or convex ap- 

 pearance of the sole in whole or in part ; a deep furrow between 

 sole and wall ; wasting and diminution of the foot as a whole, 

 but especially of the heels and quarters ; and it may be side 

 bone or fistula. There is more or less tenderness of the feet 

 and stilty careful gait, or there may be extreme lameness. It 

 will be observed that these distortions are usually connected 

 with some other disease of the feet, and the symptoms will vary 

 according to the nature of the accompanying lesion. 



Such changes of bony structure are permanent as a rule, so 

 that our attention must be given, first to the removal of any 

 unnatural condition which has caused and is perpetuating them, 

 and then to secure such a system of shoeing as will allow of the 

 utilisation of the animal in spite of the acquired deformities. 

 The hoof must be encouraged, by ointments, stimulants to the 

 coronets, and perhaps a cool moist pasture, to grow as nearly 

 as possible to the natural condition. Then the shoe must be 

 applied so as to secure the greatest extent of bearing surface, 

 without injury to the deformed and weak points. In many 

 cases a bar shoe is wanted to avail of the frog for bearing 

 weight ; a leather sole may be necessary in others ; a broad 

 web to the shoe, on one or on both sides, may be essential for 

 protection; in other cases the upper surface must be bevelled; 

 in still others the nail-holes must be stamped only around the 

 toes : clips, small nails, artificial repairs of breaches in the hoof- 



2 B 



