RECEIPT BOOK. 119 



tBdious, we should rather prevent than ture; for 

 which end we must carefully watch for the symp- 

 toms, and without delay apply the remedies. 



Symptoms. — When an animal is at all lame, its 

 foot should be carefully felt. The first indication 

 IS usually an uncommon degree of warmth, and 

 soft and puffed feel of the parts immediately con- 

 nected with the slit between the hoof, either be- 

 fore or behind the foot, and generally above it. If 

 in the hind foot, and not easily handled, a fulness 

 may generally be perceived, by standing behind 

 the animal and carefully comparing the appearance 

 of the two feet, between the dew claws and the 

 hoofs, (for it very rarely commences its attack on 

 more than one foot.) In the fore foot it generally 

 swells forward; and on taking up the foot, the slit 

 between the hoofs will have the appearance of dry 

 ness, easily distinguishable to a person used to 

 cattle; and the animal frequently licks the front 

 part of the foot. Instances frequently occur of 

 sudden and extreme lameness, without any appear- 

 ance of heat or swelling in the foot; but these aro 

 often the worst cases; but one symptom rarely 

 fails to accompany the disease, which is, extreme 

 restlessness, and appearance of anguish, attended 

 with loss of appetite and flesh; but without, in the 

 least, affecting the brightness of the eye, and, 

 perhaps sometimes unnaturally increasing it; but 

 the eye has a peculiar cast. As a general rule, it 

 is safest to attribute all lameness of the foot, which 

 cannot be traced to a sufficient cause, to the hoof 

 ail. Lameness of the foot can generally he dis- 

 tinguished from that of the leg, hip, <>r shoulder, 

 by making the animal step over a stick o; rail, and 

 carefuUv watching itf motions. 



