WOUNDS 213 



The fact that this occasionally happens only serves to give 

 point to the advice we have previously rendered — that every 

 stab should be carefully probed, and its exact condition and 

 depth ascertained. 



In those cases where percussion has led to the positive 

 opinion that pus really exists, then the exploration must be 

 most searching. There may, or may not, be a suspicious- 

 looking mark to work on. In the latter case, the veterinary 

 surgeon must not be content with confining his paring 

 operations to one spot. The sole should be carefully 

 thinned all round, and the thinning cautiously proceeded 

 with until either small, pin-point hcnemorrhages denote that 

 healthy sensitive structures have been reached, or a sudden 

 flow of pus indicates that the injury has been definitely 

 located. 



While the symptoms remain much about the same, the 

 diagnosis of pricks received in the forge, as compared with 

 those occurring in the natural manner, is easy. The 

 animal starts to the forge quite sound, and returns, per- 

 haps, with a slight limp. The slight limp in two days' 

 time becomes a decided lameness, and no doubt remains 

 as to what has occurred. The mere fact of the lameness 

 arising immediately after a visit to the forge should be 

 sufficient in the majority of cases to lead one to a correct 

 diagnosis. 



Where the opinion has been formed that a prick has 

 been received, then the shoe should be removed. 



This operation should always be superintended by the 

 veterinary surgeon himself. After the removal of the 

 clinches, the nails should be drawn one at a time with the 

 pincers, and carefully examined. Often the ofiending nail 

 may thus be picked out by observing upon it blood-stains, 

 or the moisture from inflammatory exudate or from pus. 

 Further inflammation will also be gathered by occasionally 

 meeting with a nail that has split. 



At this stage, too, the veterinary surgeon should have 

 noticed whether or not the smith has previously sent the 

 animal home with what is known as a ' draw back.' He 



