538 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



object is to keep down the inflammation. No hot oils or anything 

 stimulating is to be applied. If there is much inflammation, omit 

 digestive dressing until after it is reduced by poulticing, when dress 

 with digestives. 



There is liable to be tenderness if the sole should strike the 

 ground afterward, as there may be inflammation of the periosteum, 

 to relieve which, put on a high-heeled shoe, and blister around the 

 coronet. The sole is sometimes bruised by the shoe pressing upon 

 it, causing much inflammation and lameness. Take pff the shoe, 

 poultice for twenty-four hours or more ; fit the shoe so as to remove 

 all pressure from the sole ; if sore yet, continue the poultice ; if 

 matter is formed, treat as you would any simple ulcer, with a heal- 

 ing astringent. Several good preparations are given in another part 

 of this work. 



Foot Lameness.* 



Symptoms. — Horse goes gradually sore, walking tender either behind or before. 

 As a rule comes in one foot; if in the hind fpot, tries to 

 put the heel down first. Not much fever in the feet. No 

 apparent cause ; hard to locate the trouble.' The only diag- 

 nosis is by tapping the wall of the foot, which will give 

 a hollow sound. It is all due to want of cell-growth or 

 nutrition of horn cells, which will cause the wall or hoof 

 to separate from the true foot. At the start the horse may 

 travel sore or tender, growing worse gradually for two or 

 three months ; finally the horse becomes very lame. 

 There is no fever ; no pain by pressure or hammering. 

 The only point noticeable is by the hollow sound of the 

 wall when hammered upon. 



By examining the sole of the foot at the point where 

 the sole and wall are united,' by pricking there with a 

 probe, a granulating substance will be found — little dry 



Pig 843. Ruckinq fibers of horn, which are the dead horn-cells. These can 



be found and pricked clear up to the coronary band, with- 

 out causing any feeling to the horse. 



Treatment. — Clean out the foot properly, and pour nitric acid into the crevice 

 made until all the dead part is cleaned out. Then put on a plain shoe so as to pro • 

 tect the sole and wall ; fill out the bottom with oakum and hot tar ; next fire all 

 ■ around the coronary band, the same as for ring-bone, and apply a sharp blister, and 

 allow the horse to stand five or six weeks. If by the third week there is no sign of 

 healthy horn, the blister may again be applied. But there is usually after three or 

 four weeks a good noticeable growth of healthy horn. 



After this, but little more can be done than to exercise the horse moderately, 

 until, the new growth of horn-structure has grown down. 



* Dictated by Dr. Charles A. Meyer. 



