862 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



placing the plantar surface of one hind-foot, semi-flexed, upon the 

 anterior face of the other. Some subjects acquire this habit under the 

 influence of certain causes apart from fatigue, but as yet insufficiently 

 ascertained. Perhaps the unevenness of the stable floor, as we have 

 observed, makes it difficult for him to stand upright, and may bring 

 about this result. 



However this may be, the prolonged and frequently-repeated contact 

 of the shoe occasions wounds of the coronet and contusions of the coro- 

 nary band. Sometimes even, as a consequence of these latter, the 

 superior border of the wall becomes thickened, entirely changing the 

 direction of its anterior face and tending to render it more or less 

 perpendicular to the ground. 



The only means of preventing this defect consists in protecting the 

 parts exposed to wounds by a leather pad or boot. 



8th. Horses which lie down Cow-Fashion. The cause of 

 this habit has thus far eluded observation. The horses which manifest 

 it assume the decubitus peculiar to ruminants, that is to say, they 

 hold their anterior members flexed under the chest. The result of 

 this is that the extremity of the branches of the shoe, the heels (always 

 on the inner side), presses against the elbow. From its prolonged con- 

 tact and friction there results at first an irritation of the skin, then 

 sometimes a wound, but more usually an indolent tumor capable of 

 acquiring a considerable volume, and called a shoe-boilj on account of 

 the cause which gives rise to it. In treating of the elbow (page 221), 

 we said that during several years we kept trace of a horse which was 

 actively worked and which had at each elbow an enlargement of this 

 kind, of the size of a man's head. Generally, the tumor is annoying 

 and ungraceful rather than harmful. However, it may become so pain- 

 ful as to necessitate suspension of work. As soon as an excoriation or 

 evidence of friction is seen on the surface of this region, it is important 

 to ascertain the animal's usual mode of decubitus. If he lies down 

 like a cow, it will be advisable to remedy the habit either by protecting 

 the foot with a boot, or, preferably, by shortening the inside heel of 

 the shoe to prevent it from rubbing against the elbow. 



9th. Horses which strip their Halters. This expression is 

 used in horse language to indicate that a horse is in the habit of extri- 

 cating his head from the halter. 



The inconvenience of such a habit is often of no consequence, 

 especially when the horse is alone in the stable. However, if there is 



