—819 — 



coarse powder, as it soon dissolves on exposure to the air Lay it 

 upon the raw surface. This apply next day, if the first application 

 has not removed sufiScient or all of it. After the proud flesh has 

 been entirely taken ofif, or levelled with the sole proper, dress every 

 day with Barbadoes tar, one pound ; sulphuric acid, three drachms; 

 powdered sulphate of copper, half an ounce. Mix well, and spread 

 a portion over the sore foot, and over this dressing, a pad of tow or 

 cotton, held firmly down on the padding, so as to produce 'pressure, 

 an important matter in the treatment of canker in the foot. This 

 can be secured by thin pieces of splint from young wood being 

 placed across one another over the pad, and the ends pushed in 

 between the foot and the shoe. By this means, and a little 

 patience, with a little ingenuity in fixing and applying these pads, 

 etc., even very bad cases can be cured. 



(2.) Contraction. — This is not so much a disease as it is bad 

 management in the stable and in the blacksmith's shop. Contrac- 

 tion may be said to be an alteration of the shape and structure 

 of the posterior, or back portion of the hoof— a winding in of the 

 heels. 



Causes. Want of proper knowledge on the part of the owner or 

 horseshoer in not knowing the difiFerence between the foot that 

 would require a piece added to it at each shoeing, and the one that 

 requires a large portion taken from it, so as to insure elasticity 

 and expansion. A foot strong and inelastic, and unyielding to 

 the weight of the animal, is the very first foot to become contracted. 

 I know flat, weak-footed horses travelling sound for ten or fifteen 

 years without in the least being contracted. So long as we have 

 strong-hoofed horses, and shod with an inflexible iron ring to 

 prevent wear and tear, and the blacksmith neglects to take off of 

 each hoof at the shoeing as much horn as the horse would have 

 worn if he bad been in the natural state and not shod, we will have 

 contraction. 



Trealmeni. Cut down the hoof and shorten the toe, and make 

 the hard and inelastic foot one that will expand at its heels every 

 time the weight of the animal puts his foot to the ground. 



One-sided nailing is an excellent preventative as well as an as- 

 sistant in the cure of contracted feet. What is meant by one-sided 

 nailing is, that nails are to be confined to the outside toe of the 



