WOUNDS 251 



Association. It is an instance of complete removal of the 

 hoof by mechanical force. 



' Our patient was a brown mare, five years old, the property 

 of Messrs. Crawshaw and Co., railway contractors on the 

 Sheffield and Manchester line. 



' On June 20 the mare was, as usual, working on the line, 

 drawing one of the waggons for the removal of soil from one 

 place to another, and, as was the custom, the pace is 

 generally increased at about the distance of from sixty to 

 eighty yards from where the unloading takes place, in order 

 to add to the velocity, so that the contents of the waggons 

 might roll down so great a precipice. It was at this 

 increased action, when the mare was being removed from 

 the waggon, that she stepped between the ends of two iron 

 rails, sufficiently apart to admit the foot only, when one end 

 of the rail inserted itself between the sole and toe of the 

 shoe, the other at the top and in front of the crust. 



' The mare, finding herself fixed, endeavoured to disengage 

 herself, and, in doing so, got in front of the waggon, which, 

 coming at a great pace, forced her down into the pit, leaving 

 behind the off fore-hoof, which was only removed from its 

 situation between the two rails by a large hammer, it being 

 so firmly wedged in. The shoe and hoof were bent in a 

 very peculiar manner, as the accompanying cuts will show, 

 the inside heel being completely raised from above the level 

 of the frog, not one of the nails being unclenched, or in the 

 slightest degree having given way to so large an amount of 

 force imposed upon them, although the toe of the shoe was 

 raised from the sole by the rail being immediately under it 

 (see Fig. 114). The mare had been shod the day before, 

 and, having a good sound foot, the shoe was firmly f)ut on. 



' Being a mile from home, she was with some difficulty 

 made to travel that distance. On her arrival, my pre- 

 ceptor, Mr. Taylor, was immediately sent for, who found 

 her, as I have before stated, with the off fore-foot hoofless. 



' Proceeding to examine the foot, he ascertained that it 

 had bled considerably, which, however, was stopped by 

 bandages to the foot and a ligature round the coronet. 



