200 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



the frog, which is the natural buffer of the foot, is essential to im- 

 provement. In bad oases. Broad's shoes (p. 197) should be used ; 

 but if the animal be but little affected, a heart-shaped bar shoe 

 (Fig. 62) will be sufficient. The heels, also, may be somewhat 

 lowered ; for although this will throw an increased strain on the 

 suspensory ligaments and back tendons, it will materially lessen 

 the jar on the sensitive laminae — the lesser of the two evils. I have 

 seen several cases of cart-horses which, from chronic laminitis, were 

 unable to walk in ordinary shoes without great lameness, do their 

 work with apparent soundness of gait, in Broad's shoes. A little 

 oantliarides ointment, say, 1 to 24 of lard, may be jrubbed into the 

 coronet every second day or so, in order to stimulate it to secrete 

 stronger horn. After work, if there is any heat present, the horse 

 should be made to stand with his afiected feet in cold water for 

 some time. In the stable he should have plenty of straw placed 

 under him, and have the stall darkened, so as to induce him to lie 

 down as much as possible. Above all things, he should not be 

 worked on hard ground, or with a heavy weight on his back. 



Wonderfully good success has been obtained in the treatment of 

 chronic laminitis, by ligaturing one of the digital arteries (either 

 the external or the intern^tl). The operation is performed above 

 the fetlock, at the spot where high plantar neurotomy (p. 681) is 

 done. Two ligatures (preferably of silk) are made a little distance 

 apart, and the artery is divided between them. The effect of this 

 operation is to greatly reduce the congestion in the affected part. 

 In any case, no bad results need be feared. 



LEGAL ASPECT OF LAMINITIS.— Any existing inflammation 

 in the sensitive laminae or coronet, or any alteration in the shape 

 or structure of a foot which would indicate that the horse had 

 suffered from laminitis, is an unsoimdness. 



Seedy-Toe. 



This term is applied to a cavity formed within the wall of the 

 hoof and extending from the groimd surface in the direction of the 

 coronet. It is usually best marked at the toe, but may also extend 

 round the quarters. 



CAUSES.— It may be due (1) to laminitis (p. 185); or (2) to 

 causes, apparently, unconnected with that disease. 



In cases coming under the second heading, very little displace- 

 ment of the pedal bone seems to ttike place, and, generally, there 

 is no suspicion of the existence of the cavity, until it is discovered 



