296 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



than in an upward direction. This, however, is more 

 apparent than real, as the rate of growth of the horn down- 

 wards detracts from the progress of the disease upwards, 

 although it spreads over the horn at the same rate. 



Before concluding the symptoms, we may again allude to 

 the fact that, although usually occuring at the toe, the 

 same condition may be met with in other positions — namely, 

 at either of the quarters. In appearance and in other 

 respects it is identical with that occurring at the toe. 



When the animal is lame and the existence of seedy-toe 

 is surmised, or when the cause of the lameness is altogether 

 obscure, a little information may perhaps be gathered from 

 noting the wear of the shoe. If the animal has been going 

 lame for any length of time as a result of disease in the 

 sensitive laminae, then the shoe will be greatly thinned at 

 the heels, and the toe but little worn. 



Treatment. — As with diseased structures elsewhere, the 

 most rational treatment, when possible, is that of excision. 

 The entire portion of the wall forming the anterior boundary 

 of the cavity is thinned down with the rasp and afterwards 

 removed with the knife, wholly exposing the hypertrophied, 

 but usually soft layer of horn covering the sensitive 

 structures. These hypertrophied portions are also removed, 

 and every particle of the dust-like detritus cleaned away. 

 After-treatment consists in dressing the parts with a good 

 hoof ointment, protecting them, if necessary, with a pad of 

 tow and a stout bandage. It may be that the removal of 

 a large portion of the wall may for some time throw the 

 animal out of work. Acting on Colonel Fred Smith's 

 suggestion, this may be avoided by having made a thin 

 plate of sheet-iron, slightly larger in circumference than the 

 portion of horn removed, and shaped to follow the contour 

 of the foot. This made, it is sunk flush with the wall by 

 hot-fitting it, and kept in position by several small steel 

 screws fixed into the sound horn, just as in the treatment 

 for sand-crack (see p. 174). This will serve the useful 

 purpose of maintaining in position any dressing that may 

 be thought necessary, of acting as a support to the horn 



