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Crooked foot is that condition in which one side of the wall is higher 

 than the other. If the inside wall is the higher, the ankle is thrown 

 outward, so that the fetlock joints are abnormally wide apart and the 

 toes close together. Animals with this deformity are "pigeon-toed," 

 and are prone to interfere, the inside toe striking the opposite fetlock. 

 If but one foot is affected, the other being jjerfect, the liability to 

 interfere is still greater, for the reason that the fetlock of the perfect 

 leg is more near the center plane. 



When the outside heel is the higher the ankle is thrown in and the 

 toe turns out. Horses with such feet interfere with the heel. If but 

 one foot is so affected, the liability to interfere is less than where 

 both feet are affected, for the reason that the ankle of the perfect leg 

 is not so near to the center line. Such animals are especially liable 

 to stumbling and to lameness from injury to the ligaments of the 

 fetlock joints. The deformity is to be overcome by such shoeing as 

 will equalize the disparity in length of walls, and by proi)er boots to 

 protect the fetlocks from interfering. 



INTERFERING. 



An animal is said to interfere when one foot strikes the opposite leg, 

 as it passes by, during locomotion. The inner surface of the fetlock 

 joint is the part most subject to this injurj^ although, under certain 

 conditions, it ma}" happen to anj' part of the ankle. It is seen more 

 often in the hind than in the fore legs. Interfering causes a bruise of 

 the skin and deeper tissues, generally accompanied by an abrasion 

 of the surface. It may cause lameness, dangerous tripping, and 

 thickening of the injured parts. 



Cmises. — Faulty conformation is the most prolific cause of interfer- 

 ing. When the bones of the leg are so united that the toe of the foot 

 turns in (pigeon-toed), or when the fetlock joints are close together 

 and the toQ turns out, when the leg is so deformed that the whole foot 

 and ankle turn either in or out, interfering is almost sure to folloAv. 

 It may happen, also, when the feet grow too long ; from defective shoe- 

 ing; rough or slippery roads; from the exliaustion of labor or sick- 

 ness; swelling of the leg; high knee action; fast work, and because 

 the chest or hips are too narrow. 



Sympfoms. — Generally, the evidences of interfering are easily 

 detected, for the parts are tender, swollen, and the skin broken. 

 But very often, especially in trotters, the flat surface of the hoof 

 strikes the fetlock Avithout evident injury, and attention is directed 

 to these parts onh^ by the occasional trif)ping and unsteady gait. In 

 such cases proof of the cause may be had by walking and trotting the 

 animal, after first painting the inside toe and quarter of the suspected 

 foot with a thin coating of chalk, charcoal, mud, or paint. 



Treatment. — When the trouble is due to deformity or faulty confor- 

 mation it may not be possible to overcome the defect. 



