465 



of lameness. Inflammation results, and as there is no relief afforded 

 by swelling and no escape for the product of inflammation, this mat- 

 ter must and does burrow between the sole or wall and the sensitive 

 parts within it until it generally opens ' ' between hair and hoof. " 

 We can thus see why pain is so much more severe, why tetanus (lock- 

 jaw) more frequently follows wounds of the feet, and why, from the 

 extensive, or at times complete, separation and " casting" of the hoof, 

 these wounds must always be regarded with grave apprehension. 



Symptoms and treatment. — A j^ractice Avhich, if never deviated 

 from — that of picking up each foot, cleaning the sole, and thoroughly 

 examining the foot each and every time the horse comes into the 

 stable — will enable us to reduce the serious consequences of punctured 

 wounds of the feet to the minimum. If the wound has resulted from 

 pricking, lameness follows soon after shoeing; if from the nails being- 

 driven too close, it usually appears from four to five days or a week 

 after receiving the shoe. We should alwaj^s inquire as to the time of 

 shoeing, examine the shoe carefully and see whether it has been par- 

 tially pulled and the horse stepped back upon some of the nails or the 

 clip. The i)ain from these wounds is lancinating; the horse is seen 

 to raise and lower the limb or hold it from the ground altogether; often 

 he points the foot, flexes the leg, and knuckles at the fetlock. Swell- 

 ing of the fetlock and back tendons is also frequently seen and is aj)t 

 to mislead us. The foot must he carefully examined, and this can not 

 he properly done without removing the shoe. The nails should be 

 drawn separately and carefully examined. If there is no escape of 

 matter from the nail-holes, or if the nails themselves are not moist, 

 we must continue our examination of the foot by carefully pinching or 

 tapping it at all parts. With a little practice we can detect the spot 

 where pain is the greatest or discover the delicate line or scar left at 

 the point of entrance of the foreign body. The entire sole is then to 

 be thinned, after which we are to carefully cut down u^jon the point 

 where pain is greatest upon pressure, and, finally, through the sole at 

 this spot. When the matter has escaped, the sole, so far as it was 

 undermined by pus, is to be removed. The foot must now be poulticed 

 for one or two days and afterAvard dressed Avith a compress of oakum 

 saturated with carbolic-acid solution or other antiseptic dressing. 



If we discover a nail or other object in the foot the principal direc- 

 tion, after havdng removed the oftending body, is to cut away the 

 sole, in a funnel shape, doAvn to the sensitive parts beneath. This is 

 imperative, and if a good free oj^ening has been made and is main- 

 tained for a few days, hot fomentations and antiseptic dressings 

 applied, the cure is mostly easy, simple, quick, and permanent. The 

 horse should be shod with a leather sole under the shoe, first of all 

 applying tar and oakum to prevent any dirt from entering the wound. 

 In some instances nails may puncture the flexor tendons, the coffin 

 bone, or enter the coffin joint. Such injuries are always serious, their 



