74 



CONKEY'S STOCK BOOK 



Diagram of Healthy Hoof 



A, wall; C, bars; D, buttresses; E, cleft of frog; 



F, sole; G, leafy layer; H, frog; I, branches of 



frog; K, horny bulbs; L, middle cleft of frog; 



AA, toe; AB, sidewalls; BD, quarters. 



natural state the horse's hoofs would never become hard and contracted 

 their contact with the earth and herbage would counteract such a tendency. 



In the natural state the concus- 

 sion of each footfall is lessened by 

 the elasticity of the ground, by the 

 soft, pliable condition of the foot 

 itself, and by various details in its 

 construction all fitted to the purpose 

 such as the frog, arch of the sole, 

 plantar-cushion, etc. 



This is the natural pliable condi- 

 tion of the foot when the animal runs 

 in the natural pastures; but if kept 

 long in stables or worked on paved 

 streets or hard dry roads, the foot Q. 

 entirely dries out. The hoof sub- 

 stance contains 25% water in normal 

 healthy condition. As it loses this 

 water the hoof shrinks, hardens and 

 cracks. Some say grease the hoofs. 

 But the grease enters into the porous 

 substance, driving out the water and 

 keeping it out. The frog of the foot, 

 being softer in its composition, is all 

 the more sensitive to conditions, and 

 when deprived of moisture in the 

 natural manner, it shrinks and hardens 

 even to a greater degree than does 

 the outer horn. Remember the horse's hoof, when in healthy condition, 

 undergoes natural expansion (1/50-1/12 in.) every time it touches the 

 ground. If dried and hardened from unnatural conditions, the result is sure 

 to be cracked hoof or quarter crack, contracted hoof, etc. 



Plainly, the old-fashioned practice of burning a shoe into the hoof in 

 order to make it "fit better" (i. e., make the horse fit the iron shoe, to save 

 the smithy trouble) was the frequent cause of cracked and contracted hoof. 

 Standing on hard stable floors, working on hard dry roads, are now the 

 usual causes. Treatment consists in keeping the feet in natural, pliable 

 condition. Grease doesn't do this for reasons explained above. We suggest 

 the following treatment: 



RIGHT Wash the hoofs clean with good soapy water, or better 



TREATMENT yet, with Noxicide* solution. Then apply Conkey's Hoof 

 Remedy as directed, which, as it has a lanolin (wool- 

 fat) base, will hold moisture; and, as it penetrates every fibre of the horny 

 substance, carries its healing properties to the various parts of the hoof and 

 expands the fibres. Repeat the operation every second day while under 

 treatment, applying the remedy also along the coronary band. If necessary 

 to pack the hoof use Conkey's Hoof Remedy mixed with bran, to a heavy 

 paste. Never use cow-dung or similar disease producing packing. This 

 treatment cannot be improved on. 



Soaking the horse's feet every week for J/2 hour, using a wide wooden 

 tray or a tub, with an inch of Noxicide solution in it, is recommended for 

 preyentative treatment. An inch depth of water will be enough, since the 

 moisture will be absorbed from the bottom of the foot, not through the 

 horny walls of the hoof. Such a soak-tub can be easily made at home and 

 will be found very convenient, as it can be carried to different stalls as 

 needed. 



*Conkey's Nox-i-cide Dip and Disinfectant, mixed with water according to directions. 



