24 EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS 



careful these rings may be mistaken for those 

 due to laminitis. But the fact of the horse 

 being young, and the absence of any heat in 

 the foot reveals their true character. 



Seedy-toe. — In continuing the examination of 

 the foot, it is a good plan to take a heavy coin 

 out of the pocket, such as a half-crown, and tap 

 the horn all round, but more especially at the toe 

 and sides, to see if the parts sound hollow here. 

 If, on percussion, a hollow sound is emitted at 

 the toe, you will probably, on further searching 

 the part, find that a seedy-toe is present, and 

 this also may be frequently detected by the 

 amateur by the presence of a crumbling or seedy 

 condition of the horn of the sole at the toe. 

 Seedy-toes are of course an unsoundness, but 

 they are not incurable. They are usually 

 amenable to a simple treatment, which consists 

 of paring away with a knife the parts affected, 

 and thereby letting a healthy horny growth take 

 its place. 



False Quarter. — If, on tapping the sides of 

 the hoof, a hollow condition is found to be present, 

 you may be pretty sure that you have a separa- 



