372 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 

 prosecuted for practising unsoling for the relief of side- 

 bone. Practically only one other member of the profession 

 was able to come forward and defend the operation on the 

 score of its utility. Wc see now, however, that — as does. 

 Smith's operation — unsoling does permit of the greater ex- 

 pansion of the heels. The contraction is done away with, 

 the pressure on the sensitive lamime again diminished, and 

 the lameness relieved. 



Not that we are attempting to defend the operation — far 

 from it. We simply mention it as interesting, and quote 

 this and the use of the bar shoe (with both of which 

 methods older operators have claimed success ) merely as 

 evidence that the operation of Smith is based on a logical 

 foundation. 



When treatment is decided on, therefore, we may first 

 advise blistering and the use of a bar shoe. After that, 

 should the lameness continue, and should we still judge 

 the side-bone to be the cause of it, the operation may be 

 advised. 



As we have said before, the operation consists in so 

 grooving the wall as to allow of the quarters widening suffi- 

 ciently to relieve pressure on the parts within. In one or 

 two previous portions of this work we have considered 

 operations involving this procedure. Before detailing the 

 operation here, therefore, we will first describe the instru- 

 ments necessary, and the most satisfactory methods of 

 incising the horn. 



To begin with, it must be remembered that all methods 

 of hoof section have for their objects the after-expansion of 

 the horny box, and that this can only be brought about by 

 making each groove complete from coronary margin to solar 

 edge of the wall, and carrying it, throughout its length, 

 deep enough to reach the commencement of the sensitive 

 structures. 



To this end, therefore, the operator must bear in mind 

 the comparative thickness of the various parts of the wall, 

 and must, in particular, remember the relative thinness of 



