214 FARRIERY, ETC. 



might throw the parts so far into the line of the other foot, 

 when in motion, as to cause the cutting to continue in spite 

 of every attempt to prevent it. 



Speedy cut is a cut of the knee, by the striking of the 

 shoe of the opposite foot, when the horse is cantering, or 

 throwing his feet very high in the trot. The only remedy, 

 when the shoeing has been properly performed, and the 

 cutting still continues, is to use the boot on the wounded 

 knee ; but, in such a case of constitutional defect, the boot 

 can never be dispensed with, as an unlucky step might at 

 any time cause the horse to fall from the pain occasioned 

 by the blow. 



Nail pricking, from careless shoeing, is very common, 

 especially in country districts, where the smith is very often 

 guided only by the horse flinching, in deciding whether a 

 nail has gone too deep. Injury from these causes is not 

 always perceptible at the time of shoeing, but it will be 

 certain to appear in a few days. When an injury arising 

 from this cause is detected, the shoe should, be removed 

 and the foot examined, that the extent of the injury may 

 be learned. Stonehenge gives the following directions for 

 the treatment of such cases : 



On removing the shoe it is found that there is great 

 tenderness at some particular part of the foot, and some- 

 times a slight bulging; but this is seldom evident so soon. 

 It is the better plan to place the foot in a cold bran poultice, 

 without a shoe on, and wait for a day or two, when, if the 

 foot continues very hot, the smith must pare down the horn 

 over the suspected place, and let out the matter, if there is 

 any ; or, if necessary, bleed at the toe, which is likely to 

 relieve the inflammation, and prevent suppuration, if it has 

 not already occurred. If matter has formed, and is let out 

 a little, friar's balsam is pushed into the abscess on a piece 

 of lint, and the shoe tacked on ; but the lint must be so left 



