226 VETEKINARY MEDICINE AND 8DKGEKT. 



the prominences at the inferior extremity of the small pastern bone; g, 

 in the separation of the hoof a removal has taken place of the coronary 

 process, which consequently projects above the horny box in the living 

 subject; h, interweaving of the sensitive and of the horny or insensitive 

 laminse; the dark lines representing the sensitive laminae, and the white 

 the horny laminae, which form the inner wall of the crust; i, outer wall 

 of the crust, consisting of dark horn. 



PRICK OF THE FOOT. 



Synonyms. — Picking up a nail. 



Etiology. — Pricking is caused bynails actually penetrating the sensi- 

 tive laniinse which line the interior of the horny substance of the foot, 

 or by their being driven into the soft horn which surrounds them. In 

 the latter case, it may be several days, or even a week or two, before the 

 lameness disappears. Picking up a nail produces a similar wound, and 

 is liable to occur at any time a horse is in use. An injury of this kind 

 sliould be promptly treated, or it may result in serious trouble and cause 

 tetanus. 



When the sensitive sole is injured by any such cause, inflammation 

 almost always occurs, terminating in the formation of pus which, unless 

 aided to escape, may burrow its way up and form an opening upon the 

 coronet, producing quittor. 



Symptoms. — Lameness. 



Treatment. — If not readily seen, the exact point of the lameness 

 may be detected by pinching around the foot with a pair of pincers, one 

 side being against the outside, while the other presses the sole inside of 

 the shoe. The injured spot being supposed to be found, draw the nails 

 from the shoe, carefully watching each as it comes out. If one appears 

 to be wet, it is probably the cause of the trouble. 



In all cases it is essential to pare out freely, not merely the seat of the 

 puncture, but the surrounding sole for a considerable distance, with the 

 view of affording an easy exit for any matter which may form in the in- 

 sensitive sole. The foot should then be bathed in hot water for an hour. 



Having taken these precautionary measures, it is, in general, safe in 

 cases which are treated immediately after the occurrence of the injury, 

 i. e., before inflammation has begun (but not otherwise), bo close the 

 puncture at once by the application of tow and tar for the purpose of ex- 



