300 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



that pressure of the toe-clip is a cause of the new growth. 

 This, we should say, cannot be a very strong factor in the 

 causation, for, while we admit that the continual pressure 

 of the clip, and the heavy hammering that sometimes fits it 

 into position, is likely to set up a chronic inflammatory 

 condition of the sensitive laminse in that region, we must 

 still point out that the rarity of keraphyllocele, as compared 

 with the fact that clips are on every shoe, does not allow of 

 the argument carrying any great weight. 



Symptoms. — Except under certain conditions this defect 

 is difficult of detection. As a rule, lameness is not produced 

 by it. In making that statement we are led largely by the 

 conclusion arrived at by Professor Walley. This observer 

 noted the fact that ingrowths of horn such as we are 

 describing nearly always take place in false quarter, or 

 after a sand-crack has been repaired, and that they com- 

 monly occur after the operation of grooving the wall in the 

 manner we have just shown. 



Now, we know that quite often under these circumstances 

 the horse goes perfectly sound. Thus, while we know that 

 in all probability keraphyllocele is in existence, we have 

 ocular demonstration that the animal is quite unaffected 

 by it. 



In some cases, however, lameness is present. During 

 the early stages of the growth's formation it is but slight, 

 increasing as the keraphyllocele enlarges. Should this be 

 the case, other symptoms present themselves. The coronet 

 is hot, and tender to the touch, sometimes even perceptibly 

 swollen, and percussion over the wall is met with flinching 

 on the part of the animal- In other cases one is led to 

 suspect the condition by the prominence of the horn of 

 the wall of the toe. This is distinctly ridge-like from the 

 coronet to the ground, while on either side of it the quarters 

 appear to have sunk to less than their normal dimensions. 

 We believe this to be an illusion, as a ridge of any size 

 at the toe readily gives one the impression of atrophy behind 

 it, without this latter condition being actually present. 



Should this ridge-like formation and the accompanying 



