494 THE HORSE. 



The bleeding should be repeated, if manifest benefit is not pro- 

 cured, and cloths dipped in dissolved nitre, which are colder 

 than the common poultice, should be substituted. After this, a 

 poultice around the foot and pastern should succeed. Little 

 food should be given, and that must consist of mashes and a cool- 

 ing diet. 



PuancED Feet. — This is one of the consequences of inflamed 

 feet. The sole of the foot becomes flattened, or even convex, 

 by the pressure of the weight above. There is no cure here, and 

 the only palliation of the evil is obtained from the application of 

 a shoe so lievelled ofl" from the crust that it shall not press upon 

 or touch the sole. This, however, is only a temporary pallia- 

 tion, for the sole will continue to project, and the horse will be 

 useless. 



Contracted Fket. — By this is meant an increase in the length 

 of the foot, and a gradual narrowing as the heels are approach- 

 ed ; and, as the necessary consequence of this, a diminution of 

 the width of the foot, and a concavity of the sole. In point of 

 fact, the whole of the foot, including the coffin-bone, becomes 

 narrowed, and consequently elongated. This change of form is 

 accompanied by considerable pain ; the action of the horse is 

 altered ; there is a shortened tread, and a hesitating way of put- 

 ting the -foot to the ground. 



The frog and heel should expand when the weight of the 

 horse descends and is thrown upon them, but the nailing of the 

 shoe at the heels prevents it. Thence the pain and lameness. 

 Mr. Turner, of Eegent street, obviates this by a very simple 

 method. He puts four or five nails in the shoe on the outside, 

 and only two on the inside. There is then sufficient room for 

 the natural expansion to take place, and the foot and action of 

 the horse are little or not at all changed. This is an admirable 

 contrivance, and recourse should always be had to it. 



The Navicular Joint disease. — There are many horses with 

 open and well-formed feet that are lame. In every motion of 

 the foot, there is a great deal of action between the navicular 

 bone and the flexor tendon which passes over it, in order to 

 be inserted into the navicular bone. From concussion, or 

 violent emotion, the membrane or the cartilage which covers 

 the navicular bone is bruised or abraded, the horse becomes 



