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Sometimes these horn tumours are met with as the result of blows or 
continued local pressure, where no clips have been used. With regard to 
the diagnosis of their presence, which is sometimes not patent at first sight, 
it may be mentioned that the outer side of the hoof, corresponding to the 
site of the tumour internally, is often seen to be more hollow. 
It will be necessary in cases of tumour in this position to remove the 
cause, when that is possible. In those cases, however, where lameness 
continues to be manifested, still more vigorous measures must be taken. 
The tumour may be excavated from below with the searcher from the sole of 
the foot, and may then be filled with tow, saturated with some antiseptic 
- preparation. The shoes may then be re-applied, care being taken that they 
are ‘adjusted, so as to cause no undue pressure at the seat of disease. When 
no lameness is manifested, the disease often escapes detection. We have 
frequently met with it in examining feet after death, when no disease of the 
foot was previously suspected. 
i 
PRICKS AND INJURIES OF THE FOOT. 
PRICKS in the foot are of very common occurrence in horses. They are 
caused by nails driven into the sensitive parts of the foot, generally through 
the carelessness of blacksmiths. Not uncommonly, also, horses tread 
accidentally upon nails, or other sharp implements lying about on the ground. 
The writer could describe hundreds of such cases of pricks in the foot, which 
have come under his care ; but it will suffice here to speak of the subject in 
a general way, indicating at the same time the method of treatment to be 
adopted. It should be remembered that injuries of the frog or sole of 
the foot very frequently cause extreme pain and Jameness, and must never 
be neglected ; for, apart from all risk of lock-jaw setting in, very serious 
constitutional disturbance and rapid increase of the local mischief, are apt to 
follow in neglected cases. 
Although pain and lameness often follow immediately after the infliction 
of the injury, they may not become manifest for several days aflerwards. 
Local inflammation is set up in the region of the prick, and then “matter,” 
technically known as “pus,” is formed. This, being imprisoned by the horn, 
causes intense pain by the pressure it exerts on the surrounding parts. 
Sometimes a horse is pricked, and the smith perceiving it at once, draws out 
the nail, while at other times the nail is left in. In either case, whether the 
nail be left in or not, more or less inflammation is of necessity set up. 
Again, at other times a nail when driven into the horn splits, and while one 
arm passes in the proper direction, the other passes into the sensitive 
parts, and likewise sets up inflammation. Necessarily the signs and results 
of a prick will vary exceedingly, not only according to the seat of injury 
but also to its depth. The writer has seen a number of instances, where the 
njury and its results were confined to a very small area. In neglected cases, 
matter may be developed under the whole of the sole of the foot. Asarule, 
