WOUND IN THE SOLE OR CRUST I47 



flinch from it ; or pressure applied by pincers will 



answer the same purpose. 



Should lameness occur within two or three days 



after the horse has been shod, the first suspicion 



should fall upon the foot. The best of smiths 



may prick the foot in shoeing, and he that acts 



honestly in such a case, by at once acknowledging it, 



or informinof the owner, will not deserve blame. It 



t. . . 



is in concealing or denying the possibility of the 



thing that causes all the mischief Because, when- 

 ever it is discovered, the shoe should be taken off, 

 and that too with much care. Some foolish smiths 

 are in the habit of wrenching off shoes, a practice 

 which, under any circumstances, cannot be too 

 severely condemned. 



Remedies. — As soon as the injured part is de- 

 tected, the sole should be well thinned down around 

 it, and at the punctured spot it should be pared 

 to the quick. We are speaking of one of some days' 

 standing, in which case matter will issue from it, and 

 the sore will be thereby relieved. If the wound is 

 quite fresh, then all that will be necessary after thinning 

 the hoof is to apply a pledget with some Friar's 

 balsam to it ; or fill the wound with carbolic liniment, 

 and it will quickly heal if kept clean. If, however, 

 it does not heal speedily, and it becomes hot, then 

 inflammation will have taken place, and therefore 

 it will be necessary to apply a poultice. 



But in wounds of the foot much depends upon 

 the particular part which has been injured. Although 

 a pretty deep wound is inflicted towards the back 

 part of the sole, and even extending into the frog, 

 still it may not be attended with much danger or in- 

 convenience to the animal, because there are no bones 

 or tendons to be injured. Neither is much harm to 



