CHAPTER VIII. 

 INFLAMMATIONS OF THE PODODERM (PODODERMATITIS). 



I. Nailing. 



Wounds of the velvety tissue of the sole or of the podophyl- 

 lous tissue of the wall, caused by nails which have been driven 

 into the hoof for the purpose of fastening the shoe, are usually 

 termed " nailing." 



We distinguish direct and indirect nailing; the former is 

 noticed immediately , the latter later. 



In direct nailing the nail passes directly into the pododerm 

 (velvety tissue of the sole, podophyllous tissue) ; the wound pro- 

 duced may vary from a simple puncture of the pododerm to 

 chipping of the border of the os pedis, and is always accompa- 

 nied by bleeding, even though it may not always be noticed. 



In indirect nailing the nail does not pass entirely through 

 the horn capsule, but very close to the sensitive tissues, and 

 crowds the soft horn inward against them. This inward bulging 

 presses upon the pododerm and causes inflammation and lame- 

 ness, which may not manifest themselves for several days. 



Symptoms. — The first symptom of direct nailing is instant 

 pain indicated by flinching or a jerking of the limb, showing 

 that the nail has taken a wrong course, and then a more or less 

 profuse hemorrhage. IJisually the blood flows from the nail- 

 hole, or the nail when withdrawn may merely show a blood- 

 stain at its point; however, internal bleeding may occur with- 

 out any external manifestations. The symptoms of indirect 

 nailing are entirely different. In this case pain does not arise 

 immediately , but later, sometimes as soon as the horse attempts 

 to bear his weight upon the shod foot. In the latter case, on 

 holding up the opposite foot the animal sways backward and 

 throws his weight upon the holder, or becomes restless. As a 

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