FOOT DISEASES. 103 



other grounds it will do good. In well established cases, 

 and in good strong feet, the division of the nerves which 

 run down on each side of the leg and into the foot, will 

 relieve the pain and the horse ^\l go well for years. But 

 unfortunately many cases so operated upon have lost their 

 hoofs by falling off which have been unjustly laid to the 

 operation. The cause of this is not so much in the operation 

 as in the operator having no judgment as to the kind of 

 hoof, and whether the operation would be successful 

 or not. It would be obviously improper to recommend 

 the operation upon a flat-footed horse, as the animal 

 deprived of pain would let his thin soled foot come down 

 to the ground with great force and weight, thus injuring 

 the whole structure to such an extent, that suppuration 

 takes place and ultimately the sloughing and falHng off of 

 the hoof. 



(10.) Seedy Toe. — This is a name given to a split in the 

 centre of either fore or hind foot, extending a little way up 

 from the point, or it may be up to the hair itself. 



Causes. The same as those producing sand-crack, (which 

 see). 



Treatment. In bad cases a clasp or plate of iron secured 

 by short screws. In simple crack or split from the toe 

 upwards, cut off all communication of the sound parts with 

 the cracked or split portion. For this purpose a three 

 edged file will be a good instrument for making the divi- 

 sion. . At each shoeing the split portion will gradually 

 become less or shorter. 



(11.) Pumiced Sole. — This name is used or applied to 

 the sole of a foot, which is convex instead of concave; that is, 

 instead of the nice cupped foot, the bottom of the saucer is 

 presented. 



Causes. The result of bad or severe cases of founder, 



