159 



Sometimes these horn tumours are met with as the result of blows or 

 continued local pressure, where no clips have been used. With regard to 

 the diagnosis of their presence,, which is sometimes not patent at first sight, 

 it may be mentioned that the outer side of the hoof, corresponding to the 

 site of the tumour internally, is often seen to be more hollow. 



It will be necessar>^ in cases of tumour in this position to remove the 

 cause, when that is possible. In those cases, however, where lameness 

 continues to be manifested, still more vigorous measures must be taken. 

 The tumour may be excavated from below with the searcher from the sole of 

 the foot, and may then be filled with tow, saturated with some antiseptic 

 preparation. The shoes may then be re-applied, care being taken that the)- 

 are adjusted, so as to cause no undue pressure at the seat of disease. When 

 no lameness is manifested, the disease often escapes detection. We have 

 frequently met with it in examining feet after death, when no disease of the 

 foot was previously suspected. 



PRICKS AND INJURIES OF THE FOOT. 



Pricks in the foot are of very common occurrence in horses. They are 

 caused by nails driven into the sensitive parts of the foot, generally through 

 the carelessness of blacksmiths. Not uncommonly, also, horses tread 

 accidentally upon nails, or other sharp implements lying about on the ground. 

 The writer could describe hundreds of such cases of pricks in the foot, which 

 have come under his care ; but it will suffice here to speak of the subject in 

 a general way, indicating at the same time the method of treatment to be 

 adopted. It should be remembered that injuries of the frog or sole of 

 the foot very frequently cause extreme pain and lameness, and must never 

 be neglected ; for, apart from all risk of lock-jaw setting in, very serious 

 constitutional disturbance and rapid increase of the local mischief, are apt to 

 follow in neglected cases. 



Although pain and lameness often follow immediately after the infliction 

 of the injury, they may not become manifest for several days afterwards. 

 Local inflammation is set up in the region of the prick, and then "matter," 

 technically known as "pus," is foimed. This, being imprisoned by the horn, 

 causes intense pain by the pressure it exerts on the surrounding parts. 

 Sometimes a horse is pricked, and the smith perceiving it at once, draws out 

 the nail, while at other times the nail is left in. In either case, whether the 

 nail be left in or not, more or less inflammation is of necessity set up. 

 Again, at other times a nail when driven into the horn splits, and while one 

 arm passes in the proper direction, the other passes into the sensitive 

 parts, and likewise sets up inflammation. Necessarily the signs and results 

 of a prick will vaiy exceedingly, not only according to the seat of injury 

 but also to its depth. The writer has seen a number of instances, where the 

 njury and its results were confined to a very small area. In neglected cases, 

 matter may be de\eloped under the whole of the sole of the foot. As a rule. 



