Diseases of the Foot. 385 



or to prevent their formation ; pressure from curving in of 

 the wall which has been allowed to grow too long without 

 support from the sole, or has been rasped till it dries or 

 withers ; uneven bearing of the shoe ; all undue paring of 

 heels and quarters contribute to produce absorption and 

 rounding of the naturally sharp border of the coifin-bone 

 at its heels, bony deposits above and below, induration, 

 softening, ulceration or death of more or less of the bony 

 tissue, and permanent unsoundness. 



The existence of such distortions must be ascertained 

 from the unnatural appearance of the hoof ; the signs of 

 a homy tumor ; a rugged unhealthy hoof-wall ; a flat or 

 convex appearance of the sole in whole or in part ; a 

 deep furrow between sole and wall ; wasting and diminu- 

 tion of the foot as a whole, but especially of the heels and 

 quarters ; and it may be side bone or fistula. There is 

 more or less tenderness of the feet and stilty careful gait, 

 or there may be extreme lameness. It will be observed 

 that these distortions are usually connected with some 

 other disease of the feet, and the symptoms wiU vary 

 according to the nature of the accompanying lesion. 



Such changes of bony structure are permanent as a rule, 

 so that our attention must be given, first to the removal 

 of any unnatural condition which has caused and is per- 

 petuating them, and then to secure such a system of shoe- 

 ing as wOl allow of the utilization of the animal in spite 

 of the acquired deformities. The hoof must be encouraged, 

 by ointments, stimulants to the coronets, and perhaps a 

 cool moist pasture, to grow as nearly as possible to the 

 natural condition. Then the shoe must be appHed so as 

 to secure the greatest extent of bearing surface, without 

 injury to the deformed and weak points. In many cases 

 a bar shoe is wanted to avail of the frog for bearing weight ; 

 a leather sole may be necessary in others ; a broad web to 

 the shoe, on one or on both sides, may be essential for 

 protection ; in other cases the upper surface must be bev- 

 eled ; in still others the nail-holes must be stamped onlT 

 33 



