DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



237 



In the course of time, although the legitimate secretion of the coro- 

 nary band is not restored, Nature will, from the surrounding parts, 

 throw out a species of spurious horn, which will sufficiently protect the 

 sensitive parts immediately under the seat of injury, the horse will be 

 again sound, for all practical purposes, and eventually the aid of a three- 

 quarter shoe may be dispensed with. 



SEEDY TOE. 



Deflnition. — This term is applied to a separation of the outer wall or 

 crust of the hoof from the inner layer of soft horn derived from the 1am- 

 inas. Fig. 127. It is caused by an irregular and unhealthy secretion of the 

 lower portion of the laminae, which is incapable of maintaining the union 

 between the above-named structures. The disease always commences in 

 the lower portion of the laminae, and extends upward and laterally. 



F;g. 128. 

 Hoof cut for cure of seedy toe. 



Thougn Known as seedy toe, the disease frequently affects the quarters, 

 and, more rarely, other parts of the circumference of the foot. 



Etiology. — Seedy toe is often a result of laminitis. At other times 

 it may be caused by the pressure of the clip of the shoe. In some cases 

 it is due to constitutional causes. After the separation has taken place, 

 the disease is easily aggravated by dirt or gravel getting into the hollow 

 so formed. Lameness is not usually j^resent until the disease has run to 

 a very considerable extent upward. When any considerable degree of 

 separation has taken place, a hollow sound will be emitted on percussion. 



Treatment. — All that portion of the crust which has become de- 

 tached from the laminae must be cut away with the knife; and if the disease 



