364 



DEFORMITIES AND DISEASES OF THE HOOF. 



by the pastern, coronet, and pedal bones is twisted to one side^ 

 i.e., there is lateral distortion of the foot axis, the greater angle 

 being directed towards the convex side of the hoof. In conse- 

 quence the weight of the body is unequally distributed over the 

 articular surfaces of the coronet and pedal joints, there is a 

 tendency to bruising of the bones, while the lateral ligaments- 

 of these joints are exposed to strain. 



The chief indication in treatment is to restore the normal 

 position of the hoof. The convex half of the wall (fig. 346, a) is 

 usually too high and too narrow, the opposite half (&) too low 

 and too wide. The indications for fitting are, therefore, plain. 

 The bearing surface of the shoe corresponding to the high and 

 narrow side should be as wide as possible. A straight-edge 



I'lG. 346. — Cross section of a right fore-foot, showing hiteral curvature. The horse turns his- 

 toes outwards. «, convex outer wall ; 6,°concave inner wall. The line c-d shows how 

 much too high is the outer wall. The lines c-e and g-h show the points to which the 

 outer and inner limlis of the shoe must respectivelj- be produced ; / indicates the amount 

 of horn to be removed. 



laid on the convex half of the wall only touches it in the 

 centre, and the point at which it meets the (imaginary) pro- 

 longation of the bearing surface shows how far the bearing 

 surface of the shoe should extend outwards. The opposite half 

 of the wall exhibits a concavity at the centre. With the- 

 straight-edge it is easy to determine how much of the lower 

 margin must be removed before fitting the shoe. 



The cure of this deformity requires considerable time. 



