DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



CHAPTEE I 



INTRODUCTION 



The importance of that branch of veterinary surgery 

 dealing with diseases of the horse's foot can hardly be over- 

 estimated. That the animal's usefulness is dependent 

 upon his possession of four good feet is a fact that has long 

 been recognised. Who, indeed, is there to be found en- 

 tirely unacquainted with one or other of such well-known 

 aphorisms as : ' Whoever hath charge of a horse's foot 

 has the care of his whole body '; 'As well a horse with no 

 head as a horse with no foot'; or the perhaps better known, 

 and certainly more epigrammatic, ' No foot, no horse.' 



Without taking these sayings literally, it will be admitted 

 by almost everyone that they contain a vast amount of 

 actual truth. This allowed, it at once becomes clear that a 

 ready understanding of the diseases to which the foot is 

 liable, the means of holding them in check, and the correct 

 methods of treating them should figure largely in the 

 knowledge at the command of the veterinary surgeon. 



In the very great majority of instances the horse's ability 

 to perform labour is the one thing that justifies his existence, 

 and to that end the presence of four good, sound feet is an 

 almost indispensable qualification. And yet how many 

 circumstances do we see tending to militate against that 

 one essential. 



Even in colthood the foot, if neglected, may become 

 a source of trouble. Unless periodically examined and 



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