230 SPRAIN OF THE COFFIN JOINT. 



the outer heel lias been raised and lowered also ; in 

 both cases occasionally with good effect; but, oftener, 

 the horse continues to cut, no matter to which side the 

 bearing is thrown. That which has oftenest suc- 

 ceeded, is the level paring of the foot, with the level 

 surface or bearing of the shoe ; at the same time an 

 additional nail being put on the outer side, and only 

 one nail on the inner side of the shoe — and that one 

 near to the toe. This unfettered way of shoeing, while 

 it gives perfect security to the shoe, permits the foot 

 in some degree to expand ; hence straightforward and 

 safe motion is the more likely to be preserved. At 

 the same time any projecting edge of the shoe beyond 

 the crust should be carefully filed down ; and the in- 

 side quarter, and particularly if there is any appear- 

 ance of the hoof bulging, should be gently rasped; 

 for the horse as often bruises the fetlock with the side 

 of the opposite foot as he cuts it with the edge of the 

 shoe. 



SPRAIN OF THE PASTERN JOINT. 



This joint is not often injured; but has sometimes 

 been severely sprained. The seat of the injury may 

 be detected, as in the other cases of a similar nature, 

 by the heat, swelling, and tenderness ; the same 

 course of treatment must be pursued. 



STRAIN OF THE COFFIN JOINT. 



The symptoms which are strictly proper to this 

 injury can hardly be stated; since, whenever the 

 coffin joint is sprained, the surrounding structures 

 must certainly be involved. Heats, swelling, lame- 



