DI8EA.SES OF THE FEET. 227 



eluding the air and thereby lessening the chances of the occurrence of 

 inflammation. The shoe must be nailed on lightly in order to secure the 

 stopping in its place. Perfect rest is essential. In favorable cases, the 

 horse will be fit for work in a few days. Very few cases, however, are 

 taken sufficiently early to render the closing of the wound advisable. 



As a general rule, inflammation will have set in and the formation of 

 matter begun before the injury is noticed. The evil with which we have 

 then to deal is the confinement of the pus in the interior of the foot. In 

 addition to paring out the sole, recourse must be had to poultices of lin- 

 seed meal: 



Ground linseed § ij. 



Olive oil , 3 ij, 



Boiling water § v. 



Mix the ground linseed gradually with the water and then add the oil with 

 constant stirring 



with the view of modifying the inflammation and relieving the pain. 



When these measures are early and efficiently taken, injuries of the 

 sensitive sole seldom prove either serious or tedious. The insensitive 

 sole, however, having been freely removed, the horse will not be fit for 

 work until nature has re-supplied a sufficient quantity of it for the pro- 

 tection of the foot, unless an artificial covering, such as a leather shoe 

 covering the entire sole, is provided. When, however, the wound is 

 more serious and does not yield to this treatment, lockjaw may supervene, 

 or even set in within four or five days. For further directions in sucJi 

 cases, see the article on Tetanus. 



PUNCTURES OF THE FROG AND SOLE. 



Punctures of the frog are similar in character with those of the sole 

 and require similar treatment. They nearly always arise from picking 

 up a nail. When taken in time, they are not serious and yield to treat- 

 ment even more readily than injuries of the sole. 



If neglected, however, they are apt to lead to extensive disease of the 

 frog, and canker may be the possible result. In rare cases, the navicular 

 bone may be punctured, perfect recovery from which can never be ex- 

 pected. 



