98 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



flesh has been entirely taken off, or leveled with the so'e 

 proper, dress every day with Barbadoes tar, one pound; 

 sulphuric acid, three drachms ; powdered sulphate of cop- 

 per, half an ounce. Mix well, and spread a portion over 

 the sore foot, and over this dressing, a ')ad of tow or 

 cotton, held firmly down on the padding, « 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 ■inother over the 

 vad, 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.) CoNTEACTiON. — This is not so much a disease as it 

 is bad management in the stable and in the blacksmith's 

 shop. Contraction may be said to be an alteration of the 

 shape and structure of the T)osterior, or back portion of the 

 hoof — a winding in of the heels. 



Causes. Want of proper knowledge on the part of the 

 owner or horse-shoer in not knowing the difference be- 

 tween 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 unyiel ling 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 ]f. he had been 

 in the natural state and not shod, we will have contraction. 



Treatment. Cut down the hoof and sL'rten the toe, and 



