36 DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



suppuration and necrosis, which would endanger the animal's life, rather 



than to effect perfect restoration of usefulness for the work previously 



done. 



PRICKS AND STABS IN SHOEING. 



The wall of the ox's claw is so thin that shoeing is always somewhat 

 difficult, more especially as nails can only be inserted in the external 

 wall. Moreover, as very fine nails must he used, they are apt to bend, 

 penetrate the podophyllous tissue, and cause injuries of varying import- 

 ance. The ox is often very restless when being shod, and, even though 

 firmly fixed, usually contrives to move the foot every time the nail is 

 struck. The farrier, therefore, may easily overlook the injury which he 

 has just caused, and by proceeding and ignoring it may transform a 

 simple stab into a much more dangerous wound. 



Symptoms. In most cases lameness appears immediately the animal 

 leaves the trevis, but, although this is more difficult to explain, lameness 

 is sometimes deferred until the day after, or even two days after, shoeing. 

 Though little marked at first, lameness may become so severe that the 

 animal cannot bear the pain caused by the foot touching the ground. 

 AVhen this stage is reached general disturbance becomes marked, fever 

 sets in, rumination stops, and appetite is lost. 



These symptoms point to the occurrence of suppuration. The pus, 

 confined within the horny covering of the foot, causes very acute suffering 

 and sometimes grave general disturbance ; later it burrows in various 

 directions, separating the podophyllous tissue from the horn, and ends by 

 breaking through " between hair and hoof " in the region of the coronet. 

 In exceptional cases, complications such as necrosis of the podophyllous 

 tissue extending to the bone, and suppuration of its spongy tissue, may 

 be oliserved. 



Diagnosis. When the farrier suspects he has pricked an animal 

 the immediate withdrawal of the nail will remove any doubt, because 

 bleeding usually follows. If the condition is only detected at a later 

 stage, the early lameness having been misinterpreted, examination of 

 the claw and tapping the clenches of the nails will cause the animal 

 to show pain at a given point, thus indicating the penetration of the 

 nail. Removal of the ofl'ending nail is painful, and is often followed by 

 discharge of pus or blood-stained fluid, which clearly points to the 

 character of the injury. In obscure cases the shoe should not be 

 reajjplied. 



AYhen the horn wall is separated from the sensitive structures, there is 

 marked general disturbance, and pus is discharging at the coronet, it is 

 practically impossible to err in diagnosis. 



Prognosis. In cases of simple nail puncture the prognosis is hopeful, 

 provided that the condition is at once diagnosed. The longer it remains 



