DISEASES AND INJURIES. 211 



that shoeing generally removes the frog from contact with 

 the ground, thus placing a heavier strain upon the flexor 

 tendon of the foot as it passes over the navicular bone, is the 

 chief cause in its production. It is rarely observed in the 

 hind feet, because these have less weight to carry than the 

 fore ones. 



Symptoms. The symptoms of this disease are generally 

 well marked when it has advanced to a certain stage. In 

 the stable the horse rests the affected foot by placing it for- 

 ward and raising the heel slightly ; if both feet are involved, 

 then they are alternately rested ; the foot is hot, and the litter 

 in front is usually pawed behind. On coming out of the 

 stable the horse steps short, and trotting on hard ground 

 causes greater lameness than moving on soft soil. The horse 

 is liable to trip and stumble, from the tendency to go on his 

 toes, in order to relieve the back part of the foot. This 

 tendency also causes the shoes to be worn more at the toe? 

 than elsewhere. If the disease is of some duration, the foot 

 contracts, owing to the decrease in size of the frog, which leads 



to narrowing of the heels. Very often the frog is affected with 

 thrush. The muscles of the limb, and especially those of the 

 shoulder, become wasted, and the animal suffers much from 

 the continual pain he experiences, and from which he can 

 obtain no relief. This pain is increased if he be kept in a 

 stall, and particularly if it has a sloping floor. When the 

 disease is advanced it is almost impossible to mistake its 

 existence. 



Treatment. The disease is, no doubt, largely preventable. 

 In shoeing, the hoof should not be mutilated, but left strong 

 and sound, and the frog ought to be intact and so prominent 

 as to rest on the ground when the horse is standing. Horses 

 should be kept in stalls which are level in front, or, better, in 

 roomy loose boxes, and in the day time they ought to stand 

 on moss litter. At the commencement of the disease the 

 same procedure is to be observed, and exercise ought to be 

 allowed on soft ground. Turning the horse out in a water 



