TREADS, OR CALKS. 



541 



ticularly in the woods. Treads, .or calks, usually happen on the 

 hind foot, by the horse accidentally setting one foot on the other, or 

 another horse stepping on it. In ordinary cases, if not cut very 

 deep, all that is necessary to do, is to cut the hair from the edges, 

 sponge or clean out any hair or dirt that may be driven in, arid pour 

 on a little kerosene oil, followed by a little hot tar, or the parts cov- 

 ered .with hot tar will be sufficient. 



But if the cut is deep, it will sometimes prove to be a very se- 

 rious difficulty, and require prompt attention to prevent serious in- 

 flammation of the parts. The first thing to be done in such a case 

 is to carefully remove any dirt or other foreign matter. When 

 thoroughly clean,, it may be bound up with a pledget of tow dipped 



Fig. 844. — The Coronet as II 



Usually Appears when 



Badly Calked. 



Fig. 846.— As the Hair Should 

 be Clipped from the Edges 

 of Ihe Injury. 



in tincture of myrrh, or compound tincture of benzoin, or Friar's 

 balsam, which, if available, will be found an excellent remedy, The 

 point is now to prevent any excessive inflammation. Keep the 

 horse quiet, feed bran mashes, etc., no grain; and if there is enough 

 inflammation to cause much soreness, cover the foot with a large 

 shot poultice. If the soreness becomes at all excessive, at once use 

 hot fomentations/ fpllowing up for at least one or two hours three or 

 four times a day ; after which keep the leg tied up with wet cloths, 

 or poultice. If there is extreme pain, give an anodyne, or inject 

 a little morphine under the skin, as a horse cannot endure pain very 

 long, and continue fomentations industriously ; this, at all events, 

 must not be neglected. 



In very severe cases it may be necessary to put the horse in 



