226 DISEASES OF THE FEET. 



it, should be removed without delay. If the tumour on the 

 coronet has not " come to a head," stimulate it by rubbing into 

 it an ointment composed of 1 part of biniodide of mercury to i 

 parts of lard. In case of a deep quittor, it saves time and 

 secures drainage, to convert the sinus into an open wound by 

 cutting down, from the outside of the wall of the hoof, on the 

 inflamed parts, so as to expose them to view, in order that we 

 may, by means of antiseptic dressings, induce them to heal quickly. 

 Having cast the animal and put him under chloroform, cut a 

 vertical opening, through the hoof, just below the quittor, from 

 the coronet to the ground surface of the foot, with a special saw 

 or drawing knife (p. 166); and open up the sinus through the 

 division in the hoof, by means of a scalpel or probe-pointed 

 bistoury, while cutting outwards. Then syringe out the abscess 

 with an antiseptic solution (p. 67), and treat it antiseptically. 

 If the lateral cartilage is diseased, it is as a rule best to remove 

 it entirely. This is a serious operation which I need not describe 

 here. When a cartilage is diseased or dead, it' will be of a pale 

 psa green or sulphur yellow colour, instead of the white of health. 

 The subsequent treatment 'will be that of an abscess (p. 79). 



Forging or Clicking. 



As this habit sometimes causes injury to the foot, and may often 

 be remedied by suitable shoeing ; it is not inappropriate to consider 

 it from a veterinary point of view, and not merely as a riding or 

 driving vice. 



DEFINITION. — Forging or clickiijg is the act done by the horse, 

 at the trot, when he strikes a fore shoe, or the ground surface of 

 his hoof, with the hind hoof or shoe of the same side (Fig. 76). 

 The term is usually applied to the noise thereby made. 



MANNER IN WHICH FORGING TAKES PLACE.— Generally, 

 one of the heels of the fore shoe is hit by the hind foot, as may 

 be proved by the fact that in the majority of cases, a horse which 

 forges will not be heard to do so, if he be shod in front with tips. 

 Also, when instances are noted of the hind hoof being injured by 

 the practice of this habit, it will be found that the front of the 

 hoof, at some spot intermediate between the ground surface and 

 coronet will become, more or less, deeply indented. In some cases, 

 the toe of the fore shoe at its inner edge, is struck by the toe of 

 the hind shoe. 



CAUSES. — (1) Inability to lift up the fore foot quick enough to 



