PEICKS IN SHOEING. 



217 



the shoe, the nail or nails which are near the suspected spot 

 should be examined, and if the injury is of some days' standing, 

 we may detect the offending nail by observing that it is wet, 

 which fact will indicate the formation of matter; or by noticing 

 the existence of a stain round the nail-hole on the ground surface 

 of the horn after the sole has been pared. On withdrawing 

 a nail, such a flow of matter may take place that no doubt can 



Fig. 72. — Horizontal section through near fore hoof ; showing that the 

 wall is narrower on the inside than on the outside of the hoof. 



exist as to the cause of lameness. If the puncture be quite recent, 

 it is possible that no fluid may have escaped into the hole made 

 by the nail. The presence of heat in the hoof at any particular 

 spot will also aid us in our search. Having fixed on the puncture, 

 we should endeavour to pare it out; for if this be not done, a 

 quittor will probably be the result, owing to the matter which 

 forms, not being able to find vent, except at the coronet. The 

 usual manner in which the excavation is made, is to pare out 



