162 HORSESHOEING. 



tapping the hooi. The increased warmth of a part or of the 

 entire hoof is detected by feeling with the hand. Intense pain 

 and greatly increased warmth, with a moderate, diffuse swelling 

 of the soft parts between the hoof and fetlock- joint, indicate 

 suppuration within the hoof. 



The examination of horses lame in the feet must always be 

 cautious and searching, and should begin with the moving and 

 judging of the horse as already described on page 90. The 

 faults detected in the hoof or in the shoeing, the pain and in- 

 creased warmth of the hoof, will not leave us in doubt as to 

 whether the animal is lame in the hoof or not. However, 

 should there be a doubt, w© must carefully examine, all the 

 joints and tendons of the foot and, if necessary, of the limb 

 above, and observe the animal's manner of travelling at a walk 

 and at a trot, on soft and on hard ground, in a straight line 

 and in a circle. 



The removal of the shoe should be performed with greatest 

 caution. Under certain conditions the second shoe should not 

 be removed until the first has been replaced. The same caution 

 must be observed in paring the hoof, which is to be regarded as 

 a part of the examination of the hoof. The paring of a hoof 

 for this purpose often differs somewhat from the preparation 

 of a sound hoof for the shoe, and while it is necessary because 

 it frequently furnishes the first trustworthy indication of the 

 trouble, it must be done with circumspection and intelligence. 



The causes of diseases of the hoof are very numerous, for 

 many external influences act injuriously upon the hoof. In 

 addition to too great dryness, want of care (neglected shoeing), 

 and premature, unreasonable, cruel use of the horse, should be 

 mentioned particularly injudicious dressing of the Jioof and 

 direct and indirect faults in tTie shoeing. The pododerm, shut 

 in between the hard os pedis and the stiff, unyielding horn 

 capsule, is frequently exposed to bruising and other injuries, 

 from which arise most of the defects of the hoof itself. All 

 these things lead, under certain conditions, to lameness. 



