444 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



compression of the parts, and should have its posterior 

 half treated so as to render it softer and less liable to 

 concussion. 



The period of rest required cannot be satisfactorily 

 advised, and the practitioner is wise who makes it a long 

 one. Rest should be advised, in fact, long after symptoms 

 of lameness have disappeared and recovery is judged to 

 have taken place. 



Compression of the parts may be somewhat minimized, if 

 the animal be kept in the stable, by allowing the floor upon 

 which the front-feet are to stand to be slightly sloping from 

 behind- forwards. The same effect, though not so marked, 

 is obtained by removing the shoes, and considerably lower- 

 ing the wall at the toe, while allowing that of the heels to 

 remain. It may here be remarked that it is a good practice 

 to allow the shoes to remain on, and this even when the 

 animal is at grass. They should, however, be frequently 

 removed, and the foot trimmed as we have directed. 



With the foot thus trimmed so as to most suitably adjust 

 the angles of the articulations, it should next be thoroughly 

 pared and rasped in its posterior half, so as to render the 

 horn of the sole and the frog and the horn of the quarters 

 as thin as possible. The heels, however, should not be ex- 

 cessively lowered, if at all. We now have the foot in a soft 

 condition, and easily expanded. It should, if possible, be 

 kept so ; and this may be done either by the use of poultices, 

 by tepid baths, or by standing the animal upon a bedding 

 that may easily be kept constantly damp. Such materials 

 as tan, peat moss, or sawdust, are either of them suitable. 



All this, of course, calls for keeping the animal in the 

 stable. It is far better, however, more especially if a piece 

 of marshy land is at hand, to turn him out in that. A 

 moderate amount of exercise is beneficial rather than not, 

 and the feet are thus constantly kept damp without trouble 

 to the attendants. 



The second indication in the treatment is that of applying 

 a counter-irritant as near to the diseased parts as possible. 

 Regarding its efficacy we must confess to being somewhat 



