180 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



is not discovered at once, nevertheless, an examination is not 

 complete until practically every possible cause of lameness has 

 been located or excluded in any given case. 



In a search for nail puncture it is necessary to expose to view 

 every portion of the sole and frog in such manner that the 

 existence of the smallest possible wound will be revealed. This 

 necessitates removal of the shoe, if, after a preliminary ex- 

 amination, a puncture is not found, when there is good reason 

 to suspect its presence. However, where it is readily possible 

 to locate and care for a wound without removal of the shoe, 

 allowing the shoe to remain materially facilitates retaining 

 dressings in position and relieves the solar surface of contact 

 with the ground. If extensive injury or infection exists, it is 

 of course necessary to remove the shoe and leave it off. By re- 

 moving a superficial portion of all of the sole and frog, thus 

 carefully and completely exposing to view all parts of the solar 

 surface of the foot, and with the aid of hoof-testers one is enabled 

 to positively determine the existence of nail punctures. Because 

 of the tendency of puncture wounds of the foot to close, and 

 since the superficial portion of the solar structures are usually 

 soiled, it is absolutely necessary to conduct examinations of this 

 kind in a thorough manner. 



Symtomatology. — Not all cases of nail puncture cause lame- 

 ness during the course of the disturbance and in many instances 

 no lameness is manifested for some time after the injury has 

 been inflicted — not until infection has been the means of caus- 

 ing consideral)le inflammation of sensitive structures. Never- 

 theless, this lack of manifestation occurs only in cases where 

 serious injury has not taken place and the degree of lameness 

 is a constant and reliable indicator of the character and extent 

 of nail punctures within twenty-four hours after injury has been 

 inflicted. 



The position assumed by the affected animal inconstantly 

 varies with the location and nature of the injury and is not 

 of particular importance in establishing a diagnosis. The sub- 

 ject may support some Aveight with the affected member and 

 stand "base-wide" or "base-narrow," or no weight may be 

 ])orne with the foot or the animal may point or keep the ex- 



