378 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



When the incisions through the wall are complete, our 

 attention must be given to the sole. A drawing-knife is 

 here used, and a further incision made over the white line 

 so as to destroy the union of the sole with the wall between 

 incisions 1 and 2, and so completely isolate the portions 

 cf wall included within the four grooves (see groove 4, 

 Fig. 149). When this is done it should be found that the 

 portions of the isolated wall spring readily to pressure of 

 the thumb. 



The inferior or wearing margin of the isolated wall must 

 now be so trimmed that it takes no bearing on the ground 

 when the opposite limb is held up by an assistant and full 

 weight placed upon the foot. 



For a day or two after the operation lameness is intense. 

 This is to be treated with hot poultices or hot baths, and 

 soon disappears. Three to four days later a bar shoe 

 is nailed on (taking care that the bearing of the quarters is 

 still eased), and the hot poultices still continued. Four 

 days later still walking exercise may be commenced, to be 

 followed shortly afterwards by trotting. At about the 

 twelfth day some animals may conveniently be put to work, 

 while in other cases a fortnight, or even a month, must 

 elapse before this can be done. When put to work early, it 

 is wise to fill in the fissures made in the wall with hard 

 soap, with wax, or with a suitable hoof dressing, in order 

 that irritation of the sensitive structures with outside matter 

 may be prevented. 



This operation is soon followed by remarkable changes in 

 the shape of the foot. At about the third week the coronet 

 shows signs of bulging, and the upper part of the wall 

 operated on is often so protruding as to render the foot 

 wider here than at the ground surfaces. This is a sign that 

 the case is doing well. 



Should no improvement be noticed at the end of three 

 weeks or a month, or should the grooves become filled from 

 the bottom (which they do remarkably fast), then the 

 incisions must be deepened, the exercise reduced, and the 

 fomentations or poulticing repeated, So treated, many 



