216 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



or " ooarser " than the others, due allowance being made for their 

 position as regards their respective distances from the heels, at 

 which part, the wall is thinner and more upright than at the 

 quarters or toes. Then take up the lame foot, and tap lightly with 

 the hammer round the opposite one, to see that the horse does not 

 flinch from " fidgetiness." Having ascertained how he " stands " 

 this being done, put down the lame foot, take up the sound one, 

 and tap with the hammer on each of the clinches of the nails of the 

 injured hoof, and also on the wall below the clinches, in order to 

 ascertain the seat of pain. If any doubt remains, take up the 

 lame foot, and try to find out the tender spot by pinching round 

 the crust with a pair of pincers, one claw resting against the sole 

 within the inner edge of the shoe, while the other presses against 

 the wall. This latter operation may be repeated when the shoe is 

 off. On removing the shoe, the nail or nails near the suspected 

 spot should be examined, and if the injury is of some days' stand- 

 ing, the offending nail may be detected by observing that it is 

 wet, which fact will indicate the formation of matter ; or by 

 noticing the existence of a stain round the nail-hole on the ground 

 surface of the horn after the sole has been pared. On withdrawing 

 a nail, such a flow of matter may take place that no doubt can 

 exist as to the cause of larneness. If the puncture be quite 

 recent, it is possible that no fluid may have escaped into the hole 

 made by the nail. The presence of heat in the hoof at any par- 

 ticular spot will also aid in the search. Having fixed on the 

 puncture, endeavour to pare it out ; for if this be not done, a 

 quittor will probably be the result, owing to the matter which 

 forms, not being able to find vent, except at the coronet. The 

 usual manner in which the excavation is made, is to pare out the 

 puncture with a fine searcher from the ground surface, taking care 

 to keep away from the sensitive parts so as to avoid injuring 

 them ; for if they bleed, it will be almost impossible to follow up 

 the course which the nail took. When the point of the offending 

 nail, however, has come out through the wall, I prefer cutting, 

 with the searcher, from the outside, straight down on the passage 

 which the nail has made, than to excavate it from the ground sur- 

 face ; for, by the former plan, there is a minimum of horn re- 

 moved ; the risk of getting too close to the sensitive structures is 

 avoided ; and the injured part is left exposed for the application of 

 suitable remedies : conditions which are not obtained by the 

 latter method. Cut down on the nail before removing the shoe ; 

 but if the nail has been pulled out, a piece of wire or a thin 

 nail may be passed through the hole to act as a guide. In 

 deciding which of these two methods it is best to adopt, the 

 temporary question of appearance must be taken into consideration. 



