170 RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 



CONTRACTED HOOFS OF HORSES 



Contracted hoofs are usually brittle and feverish following contin- 

 ual hammering on the hard, dry highways, or any condition that will 

 bring about acute or chronic founder. Following chronic founder the 

 hoof will take on the ramhorned shape and appearance. 



TREATMENT 



Take off the shoes, soak the hoofs in water or a linseed poultice 

 for twenty- four hours, then pare the sole down as close to life as possi- 

 ble and rub well with axle grease over the entire hoof. Clip oft* the 

 hair above the hoof about one and one-half inches all around and rub 

 once daily for five minutes with Elk's Vessicant. Do this for 3 days, 

 then send to pasture or give the freedom of a large box stall for 10 

 days, when the above treatment may be repeated until the hoof has 

 grown larger from the coronet to the wearing surface, which will take 

 about six weeks. 



