136 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



operation, however, ha? of late years fallen into disre- 

 pute on account of ignorant men operating indiscrimi- 

 nately on feet of all forms and shapes alike; and, conse- 

 quently, no surprise should be expressed, when in some 

 of these cases the feet ultimately fall off. 



Neurotomy should never be performed upon flat and 

 weak-footed horses, as they are easily bruised and sup- 

 puration is set up, and separation of the outer and inner 

 foot structures. Weak and flat-footed horses when sound, 

 are careful how they put their feet upon hard roads and 

 paved streets; but when deprived of all feeling by the 

 operation of neurotomy, they let their feet come down 

 on the ground with great force, so as to injure the foot, 

 resulting, as before stated, by the hoof falling off. 



Nose, Diseases of. — (See Cold, Catarrh, and Bron- 

 chitis.) 



Numbness. — Loss of feeling in any part, usually 

 indicating disease of the brain, resulting in paralysis or 

 palsy. 



Obesity. — This is a term applied to morbid or un- 

 healthy fatness. When this condition is in the mesen- 

 tary, it produces big belly; in the liver, fatty liver; in 

 the heart, fatty degeneration of that organ. 



Causes. — Little or no work, or exercise disproportion- 

 ate between the amount of food taken and the waste. 



Treatment. — Constant and regular work ; feed in small 

 bulk oats instead of corn, and not much hay. To animals 

 inclining to take on too much fat and flesh, give a dose 

 of physick (see Aloes, Medicines and Prescriptions) oc- 

 casionally, but do not bleed. 



QSdema. — A term signifying soft and not inflamma- 

 tory swellings of various parts of the body, as a sequel 



