Diseases of the Foot. 375 



tively to tlie heels or shod mtli high heel calkins, so as 

 ' to increase concussion in action. 



Symptoms. Lameness with a short stilty step, and a 

 tendency to stumble from the attempt to avoid shock on 

 the heels. The pasterns are upright and the heels often 

 flecp and strong. Pressure on the prominence above the 

 hoof at the quarter, detects tenderness and a hard unyield- 

 ing structure instead of the usual yielding elastic gristle. 

 Bruises of the heel (corns) with bloody discoloration of 

 the horn is almost a constant result of extensive side- 

 bones, the sensitive sole being pinched between the bone 

 -and hoof. 



Fig 72. 



Fig. 72 — Ossified lateral cartilages. Side bones. 



Treatment. Subdue any existing inflammation by resi, 

 blisters or even firing at the coronets, and apply a bar 

 shoe, the bar resting on the bulbs of the frog, and keep 

 the hoof-waU, at the heels, rasjied lower than the rest of 

 the bearing surface, so that daylight can be seen between 

 this part and the shoe. The same shoeing must be kept 

 up when the horse is put to work or he will soon fall lame 

 again from bruising of the heels. 



Excision of the ossified cartilage and neurotomy have 

 been resorted to with success, but are inappUcable to 

 most cases. 



FEACTUEES OF THE BONES OF THE FOOT 



The small sesamoid may be broken after it has been 

 weakened by superficial and internal absorption. The 

 pedal bono may give way from concussion when previously 

 softened by disease, or in cases of blows on the surface, 



