363 



the consequences, a slough takiug place, succeeded b^- a cutaneous 

 ulcer on the inside of the fetlock or where the greater number of the 

 original wounds are inflicted. If the interfering has been often 

 relocated it may be followed by another condition, v%'hich has been con- 

 sidered in our remarks upon other affections. It is a plastic exuda- 

 tion or thickening of the parts, vrhich are commonlj' said to have 

 became " callous," and the effect of it is to destroy the regularity of 

 the outlines of the joint to an extent which constitutes a serious 

 blemish, which will bo permanent, and according to the degree of the 

 aberration from the natural aud symmetrical lines will inevitably 

 depreciate the commercial value of the animal. 



An animal in interfering may thus exhibit a range of symptoms 

 which, from the simplest form of a mere "touching, "may successively 

 assume the serious characters of an ugly cicatrix, a hard, plastic 

 swelling, or perhaps, as witnessed at the knee, of periostitis with its 

 sequehe. 



If a single and constantly recurring cause — a blow — Ijc the starting 

 point in interfering, Ave may now consider the subject of the iDredisi^o- 

 sition Avliich brings such serious results upon the suffering animal, 

 and the conditions which lead to and accompanj^ it. These are 

 numerous, but the first in frequency and importance is peculiarity of 

 conformation in the animals addicted to it. The first class will include 

 horses whose chests are narrow and whose legs do not stand straight 

 and upright, but ai-e crooked and pigeon-toed in and out. The second 

 class includes those A^hose legs are weak, either from youth or hard 

 labor, or from severe attacks of sickness. Another class is made up 

 of those having abnormallj^ developed feet, or which have been badly 

 shod mtli unnecessarily Avide or heavy shoes. Another class consists 

 of those that are affected with swollen fetlocks or chronic oedematous 

 swelling of the leg. Another is formed of animals with a peculiar 

 action, as those whose knee action is very high, and it is these that 

 furnish most of the cases of speedy cut. 



The prognosis of interfering is never a very serious one. However 

 violent the blow may be it is rarelj" that subsequent comjblications of 

 a troublesome nature occur. The principal evil attending it is a lia- 

 bility to be followed by a thickened or callous deposit which is not 

 only an eyesore and a blemish, but constitutes a new and increased 

 predisposition. The remark that "an animal whieli has interfered 

 once is always liable to interfere," is often confirmed and sanctioned 

 bj' a recurrence of the trouble. 



Another point in Avhich there is a resemblance between this lesion 

 and others Avliich we have considered is in its responsiveness to the 

 same treatment with them. Indeed, the prescrijition of warm fomen- 

 tations, soothing applications, and astringent and resolvent mixtures, 

 in a majority of eases, is the first that occurs all through tlie list. If 

 the swelling assumes the character of a serous collection, pressure. 



