FLAT ANr) ' DROPPED SOLE. 



333 



fig. 323 only one-half of the sole, the inner, is so deformed. 

 The wall generally exhibits rings and furrows, and is more or 

 less depressed at the centre, its outhne being concave. In the 

 unshod hoof the frog and horny sole then take the entire 

 weight, hence animals with convex sole can neither go nor 

 stand continuouslv without shoes. 



The vva\'y appearance sometimes shown, which reaches from 



ISiliis 



Fia. 323.— Left front foot with inside half of sole ' dropped ' oi" convex, seen from below, in 

 front and in section, a-h, direction of section ; c, broken wall ; d, ' dropped ' portion, 

 of sole ; e, os pedis atrophied by pressure ; /, depression extending from coronet to 

 ground ; g, concave inner quarter. 



the coronet to the bearing surface, and the form and condition: 

 of the hoof, point strongly to the displacement of the os pedis. 



Dropped sole may result from a continuation of the process 

 which produces flat sole, or from laminitis. In the former case- 

 one lateral half of the sole is usually deformed, and the white 

 line is not increased in breadth ; in the latter the convexity 

 usually appears in front of the point of the frog, the white 

 line is perceptibly broader, and the rings on the wall are close 

 together at the toe, but diverge as they extend towards the 

 heels. 



In general, the same treatment is appropriate in convex as 

 in flat sole. When the sole projects so far below the bearing 

 surface of the wall that it would touch the ground even after 

 the application of a thick bar shoe, it may be necessary to 

 build up the wall with an artificial composition, and to secure 

 the sole from contact with the ground by the use of toe-pieces 

 and heels. Screws are then very useful in conjunction with 

 bar shoes. 



On account of the brittleness of the wall, as few nails as- 

 possible should be employed, and to secure the shoe it is often 

 well to form a quarter-clip at either side. The position of the 



