176 



Brushing is frequently due to weakness, and is, therefore, especially 

 common in long-legged, debilitated animals. When exhausted after a long 

 journey, many horses are liable to cut, and often very seriously. Brushing 

 may also be due to turning out the toes, or to certain irregularities in the 

 shape of the animal. Wide-chested horses, with well proportioned hind- 

 quarters, very seldom cut. This habit sometimes, moreover, owes its origin 

 to defective shoeing, by which the outer quarter of the foot is made higher 

 than the inner. After treating the injured spot by the application, 

 of some antiseptic ointment, as the unguentum acidi borici, it is 

 necessary to take steps to prevent the infliction of this injury. A very 

 valuable antiseptic ointment, useful for dressing the injured part, may be 

 made of oil of eucalyptus, two drachms ; carbolic acid, half a drachm ; 

 iodoform, half a drachm ; lard, an ounce and a half; vaseline, an ounce and 

 a half. If there be a large scabbed surface, caused by the infliction of 

 previous cuts, this is removed by poultices, before applying the ointment. 

 The formula above-mentioned, we may add in passing, is a very valuable 

 application to any sore surface, as it possesses great antiseptic and healing 

 properties. 



With regard to the prevention of brushing and speedy cutting, it is 

 found that horses shod by the Charlier method — of which we spoke in 

 treating of navicular disease — seldom or never inflict these injuries upon 

 themselves. The patent pads made of india-rubber, are very useful in 

 preventing speedy cutting. They are shaped like crescents, and consist of 

 two distinct parts, one flat, the other projecting in the form of a pad. The 

 flat portion is introduced between the shoe and the foot, and the pad thus 

 projects beyond the shoe. If the owner does not procure these valuable 

 preventive pads, the inner side of the shoe of the injured limb ma»y be made 

 thicker, or the horny crust of the outer quarter of the same foot may be 

 made lower ; and that section of the shoe which inflicts the wound must be 

 smoothed off by the smith. In case these alterations prove unavailing, a 

 stout india-rubber ring, such as that commonly employed, or a leathern boot 

 laced on the leg may be procured. 



Although we mentioned that in speedy cutting the injury is generally 

 situated below the knee, we have met with instances where it has been 

 inflicted just above the joint, and it is not so very uncommon for the hind 

 limbs to be similarly injured, immediately below the hock joints. The injur>', 

 especially when repeated, is liable, like brushing, to cause a bony growth at 

 the wounded spot ; and its repetition increases the tumefaction, and renders 

 the habit more liable to become permanent. In examining horses, it not 

 unfrequently happens that a bony growth is found at the spot, where a 

 speedy cut has been inflicted by the shoe. It is advisable, therefore, in 

 purchasing a horse, to see whether there be any traces of previous injuries. 



In some severe instances, speedy cutting is attended with some 

 constitutional disturbance, and cases in which matter is formed at the 

 bruised spot are not very uncommon. In such cases the animal must be 

 rested, and placed in a comfortable loose box. Good nutritious diet of a 



