ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOOY. 131 



capillaries — radiating from it, the trouble i? from a corn. The 

 treatment is to cut out the sole immediately over the corn, to 

 keep the shoe from bearing on it. 



The fore feet are almost exclusively subject to corns. While 

 in motion, the horse strikes the ground first with the heels of his 

 fore feet and with the toes of his hind feet. 



If the seat of corn is repeatedly bruised, as is the case when 

 the shoe is left on too long, and the heel bears directly on the 

 seat of corn, it often suppurates, and the inflammation spreads 

 to the velvety tissue and the laminae. This is an uncommon 

 and extremely serious phase of the disease. 



A bruised sole is a similar trouble, resulting from a severe 

 blow to the sole. It is very difficult to locate, and can only be 

 cured by rest, and, when suppuration results, by surgery. 



Contracted heels is a common disease among all classes of 

 horses, but especially among saddle-horses. It is a result of 

 diseases that cause the destruction of the frog, or of a wasting 

 away of the frog from disuse, as in the case with horses habitualU 

 shod with calks. The heels, robbed of the support of the healthy 

 frog, pinch in together (Figure 86) . The only remedy is to re- 

 store the frog, and usually Hihis is impossible. 



Cracked heels, or scratches, is a disease similar to the 

 familiar chapped hands. Its location is in the tender skin over 

 the heels and under the fetlock. It is easily recognized by 

 longitudinal cracks in the skin, showing red under at first. If 

 neglected, the fluids that escape will dry and form thick crusts 

 on each 'side of the cracks. The cracks often become infected 

 and suppurate. Similar cracks at the bend of the knee and 

 hock, called, respectively, malanders and salanders, some- 

 times appear, and, in certain badly neglected cases, these regions 

 unite presenting a' most loathsome aspect. Scratches are al- 

 most always caused by filth, neglect, or bad treatment, and are 

 cured by cleanliness and dryness. Extreme cases need expert 

 treatment. 



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