391 



as one of the results of other diseases of the foot ; for instance, it often 

 accompanies thrush, side bones, ring bones, canker, navicular disease, 

 corns, sprains of the flexor tendons, of the sesamoid and suspensory lig- 

 aments, and from excessive knuckling of the fetlock joints. 



Synipto7ns. — In contraction of the heels the foot has lost its circular 

 shape, and the walls from the quarters backward approach to a straight 

 line. The ground surface of the foot is now smaller than the coronary 

 circumference ; the frog is pinched between the inclosing heels, is much 

 shrunken, and at times is affected with thrush. The sole is more con- 

 cave than natural, the heels are higher, and the bars are long and nearly 

 perpendicular. The whole hoof is dry, and so hard that it can scarcely 

 be cut ; the parts toward the heels are scaly and often ridged like the 

 horns of a ram, while fissures, more or less deep, may be seen at the 

 quarters and heels following the direction of the horn fibers. (Plate 

 XXXIII, Fig. 10.) When the disease is well advanced lameness is pres- 

 ent; in the earlier stages there is only an uneasiness evinced by fre- 

 quent shifting of the affected foot or feet. Stumbling is common, espe- 

 cially on hard or rough roads. In most cases the animal comes out of 

 the stable stiff and inclined to walk on the toe, but after exercise he 

 may go free again. He wears his shoes off at the toe in a short time, 

 no matter whether he works or remains in the stable. If the shoe is 

 removed and the foot pared, in old cases a dry, mealy horn will be found 

 where the sole and wall unite, extending upward in a narrow line toward 

 the quarters. 



Treatment. — First of all, the preventive measures must be considered. 

 The feet must be kept moist and the horn be prevented from drying out 

 by the use of moist sawdust or other damp bedding; by occasional 

 poultices of boiled turnips, linseed meal, etc., and the use of greasy 

 hoof ointments to both the sole and walls of the feet. The wall of the 

 foot should be spared from the abuse of the rasp ; the frog, heels, and 

 bars are not to be mutilated with the knife, nor should calks be used 

 on the shoe except when absolutely necessary. The shoes should be 

 reset at least once a month, to prevent the feet from becoming too long, 

 and daily exercise must be insisted on. 



As to curative measures a diversity of opinion exists. A number of 

 kinds of special shoes have been invented, having ior an object the 

 spreading of the heels, and perhaps any of these, if properly used, 

 would eventually effect the desired result. But a serious objection to 

 most of these shoes is that they are expensive and often diSicnlt of 

 make and application. The method of treatment which I have adopted 

 in these cases is not only attended with good results, but is inexpen- 

 sive, if the loss of the patient's services for a time is not considered 

 a part of the question. It consists, first, in the use of poultices or 

 baths of cold water for a few days until the horn is thoroughly soft- 

 ened. The foot is now prepared for the shoe in the usual way, ex- 

 cept that the heels are lowered a little, the frog remaining untouched. 

 A shoe called a " tip " is made by cutting off both branches at the cen- 



