74 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



the hands of an energetic person, the most of the fungus 

 or proud flesh can be taken oiF in the same manner. If 

 not, get caustic potash, and quickly reduce it to a 

 coarse powder, as it soon dissolves on exposure to the 

 air. Lay it upon the raw surface. This apply next 

 day, if the first application has not removed sufficient or 

 all of it. After the proud flesh has been entirely taken 

 off", and level with the sole proper, dress every day with 

 Barbadoes tar, one pound ; sulphuric acid, three drachms ; 

 powdered sulphate of copper, half an ounce. Mix well, 

 and spread a portion over the sore foot, and over this 

 dressing, a pad of tow or cotton, held firmly down on the 

 padding, so as to produce pressure, an important matter 

 in the treatment of canker in the foot. This can be se- 

 cured by thin pieces of splint from young wood, being 

 placed across one another over the pad, and the ends 

 pushed in between the foot and the shoe. By this 

 means, and a little patience, and a little ingenuity in 

 fixing and applying these pads, etc., even very bad cases 

 can be cured. 



(2.) Contraction. — This is not so much a disease as 

 it is of bad management in the stable and in the black- 

 smith's shop. Contraction may be said to be an altera- 

 tion of the shape and structure of the posterior, or back 

 portion of the hoof — a winding in of the heels. 



Causes. — Want of proper knowledge on the part of 

 the owner or horse shoer in not knowing the difi'erence 

 between the foot that would require a piece added to it 

 at each shoeing, and the one that requires a large por- 

 tion taken from it, so as to insure elasticity and expan- 

 sion. A foot strong and inelastic, and unyielding to 

 the weight of the animal, is the very first foot to become 

 contracted. I know flat, weak-footed horses travelling 



