166 PRICKING OR DRIVING A NAIL INTO THE FOOt. 



sole ; put in the leather over, and now comes the important 

 point. Drive wedges, nicely fitted, between the iron and 

 leather, all you dare, to cause a strong but even pressure 

 upon the sole under the pedal or coffin-bone. What next ? 

 Keep down inflammation by poulticing ; but keep an even, 

 firm pressure upon the sole until inflammation subsides, and 

 the sole remains in its natural position. 



Of course success will depend largely upon the care and 

 skill with which this is done. If there is not too much dis- 

 organization, you can make a reasonably good foot. See 

 that no matter was retained under the sole or hoof. Cut 

 away the horn, and make an outlet if necessary, and dress 

 as any simple incised wound. 



PRICKING OB DRIVING A NAIL INTO THE FOOT. 



Be very cautious about letting the smith drive the nails 

 too deep into the foot. Sometimes the shoe is too short ; 

 and to remedy the matter it is set back so far under the toe 

 as to endanger driving the nails into the sensitive part of 

 the foot. You should not on any account allow such a shoe 

 put on, and the hoof cut down to it ; but if you see the horse 

 flinch sharply when the nail is driven, and it is at all deep, 

 have it pulled out, and leave that hole without a nail. If 

 after a few hours, or next day after being shod, the horse 

 points, or is lame, there is cause for alarm. Put your hand 

 gently upon the hoof, and see if you can detect any unusual 

 heat ; next, get a hammer or stone, and tap around over the 

 nails carefully until there is a flinch, and you detect soreness 

 and heat plainly ; have the shoe at once removed, pulling 

 out the nails carefully, cut down to where the nail strikes 

 the quick, enough to make room for any matter that may 

 have formed to escape ; then poultice the foot with flax- 

 seed meal until the inflammation is reduced, when a little 

 tar, resin, or tallow should be put on the opening, filled up 

 with a little tow, to prevent gravel or dirt getting in, and put 

 the shoe on again. 



SHOEING SORE AND LAME HORSES. 

 If the horse is simply stiff and sore, we will suppose the 

 result of chronic founder, make a simple flat shoe. Raise 

 the heels with heel corks, and round the toe something like 



