iHseases of the Foot. 473 



bling step when moved. Pinching the affected heel with 

 pincers or tapping it with a hammer causes wincing. If 

 the shoe is removed and the heel pared out, the horn may 

 be seen to be blood-stained, but unless this is seen on 

 removing the flakes, no one should allow curiosity to lead 

 to a deeper search. If suppuration has taken place the 

 tenderness is extreme, often causing the animal to keep 

 the foot raised and scarcely daring to touch the ground 

 with the toe, a tender swelling usually appears at the 

 coronet above the affected heel, and pinching or ham- 

 mering of the heel is unendurable. A homy tumor may 

 be recognized by symptoms similar to those shown in 

 Iceraphyllocde. 



Treatment. If a recent bruise and uncomphcated, apply 

 either a bar shoe or a common one, but rasp down the 

 bearing surface of the affected heel to avoid pressure as 

 advised for side bones, and place the feet in water or keep 

 the wall moist with wet swabs, and the sole with oil meal 

 or clay packing. When tenderness has subsided, smear 

 the hoof with ouitment and work carefully. Eemove the 

 shoe early enough to prevent pressure on that heel, and in 

 preparing the foot retain the strength of the heel by pre- 

 serving the elastic horn of the sole between wall and bar. 

 Never allow this to be pared and weakened unless it be to 

 evacuate matter or sand, or for the removal of a horny 

 tumor. 



If suppuration has taken place, pare down the heel 

 until the matter escapes, remove aU horn detached from 

 the quick, and pare the horn around this to a thin edge, 

 poultice until the surface is smooth, dry and not at aU 

 tender, then apply a bar shoe, a leather sole, and a 

 stuffing of tow and tar or crude turpentine (pine pitch). 

 No pressure should be allowed on this heel until the sole 

 has gi'own up to its natural level, as a support. Horny 

 tumors may be removed by paring out and treating as 

 above advised, until the sole attains its natural growth, 

 If old-standing corns are connected with death of a ppr 



