444 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
compression of the parts, and should have its posterior 
half treated so as to render it softer and less liable to 
concussion. 
The period of rest required cannot be satisfactorily 
advised, and the practitioner is wise who makes it a long 
one. Rest should be advised, in fact, long after symptoms 
of lameness have disappeared and recovery is judged to have 
taken place. 
Compression of the parts may be somewhat minimized, if 
the animal be kept in the stable, by allowing the floor upon 
which the front-feet are to stand to be slightly sloping from 
behind forwards. The same effect, though not so marked, 
is obtained by removing the shoes, and considerably lowering 
the wall at the toe, while allowing that of the heels to remain. 
It may here be remarked that it is a good practice to allow 
the shoes to remain on, and this even when the animal is at 
grass. They should, however, be frequently removed, and 
the foot trimmed as we have directed. 
With the foot thus trimmed so as to most suitably adjust 
the angles of the articulations, it should next be thoroughly 
pared and rasped in its posterior half, so as to render the 
horn of the sole and the frog and the horn of the quarters 
as thin as possible. The heels, however, should not be 
excessively lowered, if at all. We now have the foot in a soft 
condition, and easily expanded. It should, if possible, be 
kept so; and this may be done either by the use of poultices, 
by tepid baths, or by standing the animal upon a bedding 
that may easily be kept constantly damp. Such materials 
as tan, peat moss, or sawdust, are either of them suitable. 
All this, of course, calls for keeping the animal in the 
stable. It is far better, however, more especially if a piece 
of marshy land is at hand, to turn him out in that. A 
moderate amount of exercise is beneficial rather than not, 
and the feet are thus constantly kept damp without trouble 
to the attendants. 
The second indication in the treatment is that of applying 
a counter-irritant as near to the diseased parts as possible. 
Regarding its efficacy we must confess to being somewhat 
