214 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
has discovered, immediately after he has done it, that he 
has pricked the animal. He has then withdrawn the nail, 
and either sent the animal back with that nail altogether 
missing from the set in the shoe, or with the hole filled up 
with a stump. 
_ The shoe once off, the holes made by the nails in the 
‘horn should be minutely examined for the presence of 
hemorrhage, inflammatory fluid, or pus exuding from 
them, and also for evidence of their correct placing in the 
foot. Should fluid matter issue from any one of them, or 
should it be deemed that one has approached too near the 
inner, margin of the white line, more especially if tender- 
ness exists around it, that hole should be followed up with 
a ‘searcher’ or small drawing-knife until diagnosis is 
certain. | 
Complications.—Before proceeding to discuss the com- 
plications ‘that may arise in the case of pricked foot, we 
may call to\mind that the anatomy of the parts teaches us 
that the most serious position in which a punctured wound 
can occur is \at the centre of the foot. Here the plantar 
aponeurosis, the navicular bursa, the navicular bone itself, 
or the pedal articulation may be injured. 
Anterior to this position the most serious mischief that 
can ordinarily result is stabbing of the os pedis. 
Posterior to the position we have named, the only struc- 
ture to be injured i 18 the plantar cushion. 
Anatomically, then, the inferior surface of the foot may 
be divided into three . zones, as follows : 
A. Anterior, penne from the toe to the point of the 
frog. 
B. Middle, stieaitins \from the point of the frog to the 
commencement of its median lacuna. 
C. Posterior, including everything posterior to the middle 
zone. 
This division of the inférior surface of the foot into 
zones will be somewhat of a, guide also when describing 
the complications next to follow: 
(a) Suppuration.—This is the common complication of 
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