420 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



by the constant pawing movements of the affected foot. If 

 he has room to get up and down in comfort the animal adopts 

 for long periods at a stretch the recumbent position, and is 

 not upon his legs long enough to take the necessary amount 

 of food to keep him going. Even when down, it is plain to 

 see that the animal is not at rest. The pawing movement 

 is still maintained with the foot, and every now and again 

 the eyes are opened and the headed lifted to give a troubled 

 look round. The appetite, too, is capricious, and in many 

 cases almost entirely lost. 



In some slight degree the condition is less to be feared 

 in a fore than in a hind foot — that is, so far as absolutely 

 fatal results are concerned. With the condition confined 

 to one fore-foot, the animal is able to get up and down with 

 a moderate degree of comfort. At intervals, therefore, he 

 rises to take nourishment, and as soon as his wants are 

 satisfied again lies down. 



With the disease in a hind-foot matters are not taken 

 so comfortably. The patient finds that with each day's 

 increasing weakness the difficulty that at first he had to 

 raise himself with only one sound hind - foot becomes 

 enormously increased. The consequence is that he fears 

 to go down, and the standing position is maintained until 

 sheer weakness overcomes him, and he goes down, not to 

 rise again without assistance. 



If judiciously attended he is, of course, put in slings 

 before this stage is reached ; but there are instances, as 

 in the case of a cart-mare heavy with foal, where the use 

 of slings is most decidedly contra-indicated. 



If doubt before existed as to the nature of the case, it is 

 at a later stage dispelled by the appearance, generally in 

 the hollow of the heel, of a hot and painful swelling. This 

 at first is hard, but later fluctuates. Finally it breaks at 

 one or more spots, and there exudes from the opening 

 or openings a purulent and oftentimes sanious discharge, 

 which coagulates about each fistula after the manner of 

 ordinary synovia. 



With the discharge of the abscess contents there is some 



