440 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



can be artificially made to display members equally fine — 

 were masters more resolute in resisting the selfish sugges- 

 tions of lazy grooms, who love to have the bushy heels 

 clipped — were the stable-keeper not afraid of doing his 

 duty, but would go down upon his knees and rub the 

 fetlocks dry, instead of drenching them with water, and 

 then leaving them to chap in moisture and in cold — were 

 these things attended to, there is no reason why cracked 

 heels should not speedily become a thing which has been, 

 but no longer is." 



TREAD. 



This is a wound inflicted on the coronet of the hinder 

 foot by the act of crossing the feet when the animal is 

 fatigued. In some cart horses it happens in coming down 

 hill, the calkin of the one foot striking its fellow in front, 

 and tearing away a portion of the coronet. In light fast 

 horses a very similar injury is produced by the inner part 

 of the hind foot striking the outer part of the fore coronet, 

 when it is called " overreach." Quittor or false quarter 

 results from this tearing away of the part which nourishes 

 the hoof. Cut away the separated pieces of flesh, and wash 

 with chloride of zinc, and give the animal generous diet. If 

 a slough takes place, dress as for ulceration, but do not 

 poultice. 



In the first instance, all cases of "tread" are to be 

 considered as simple wounds, or rather as bruises, which, if 

 extensive, have produced death in the surface and adjacent 

 parts of the hurt ; in which some inflammation must occur 

 and be followed by slough of the edges thus injured. Some- 

 times the injury is so great as to cause sloughing of the 

 extensor pedis tendon, and opening of the cofiin-joint. In 

 no instance, therefore, should an early application of irritat- 

 ing or caustic matters be made, by which more extensive 

 inflammation and an increase of sloughing are produced. 

 On the contrary, wash with water to remove dirt, etc., and 

 if the wound be considerable, wrap up the foot in a poultice ; 

 if not, apply over it simply the mild lotion of chloride of 

 zinc. Should the injury be slight, it may heal at once ; but 

 if not, sloughing and suppuration will occur. Under some 

 circumstances, however, more extensive mischief will follow, 

 when the case must be considered as " quittor," or " open 

 joint " ; the treatment of which, by the oDening of the 



