DISEASES. 651 



is greased, the hoof of the sole and of the frog being left without, 

 though they may be in equal need of it. The best hoof ointment 

 is made of lard, a small quantity of wax or turpentine, sometimes 

 mixed with tar. Glycerine is very useful, to give the hoof supple- 

 ness when it has become hard ; it is applied by friction, after the 

 foot has been well washed and dried. In the majority of cases 

 poultices are preferable to mucilaginous baths. 



Greasing is necessary for horses which are much exposed to . 

 dampness, and is as good for the sole and frog, as for the wall. 

 It is applicable, also, to feet which have to stand on dry bedding. 

 Feet, which, on account of diseased conditions, require to be fre- 

 quently soaked or poulticed, ought also to be greased. Bedding 

 of fine sand and of sawdust has been recommended. It is well, 

 also, to place horses upon marshy lands. All these measiu-es may 

 be advantageous if the feet are properly shod. 



Good shoeing is the essential prophylaxy of hoof-bound ; we 

 must avoid all improper practices likely to promote desiccation 

 and contraction of the foot, such as abuse of the rasp ; too long 

 application of the heated shoe when fitting it to the foot ; the 

 lowering of the heels ; the excessive paring of the frog or of the 

 bars ; the bad fitting of the shoe ; useless calks ; too many nails 

 in the quarter or near the heels — all these errors must be carefully 

 avoided. The foot, moreover, must not be allowed to grow too 

 long. The shoeing should be renewed at least monthly, even if 

 the shoe is not worn. And lastly, the horse must not be allowed 

 too long periods of inactivity. 



It has been proposed to aboUsh the custom of shoeing, but in 

 the present conditions and modes of using the horse this is im- 

 possible. The feet, deprived of their accustomed protection, would 

 soon become painful, and only by keeping the animal in the coun- 

 try could the feet be suffered to remain unshod. 



Several modes of shoeing have been invented to prevent con- 

 tractions in feet which are predisposed to them. Some are un- 

 doubtedly beneficial, but they must be used as an ordinary shoe- 

 ing, and not reserved until the access of the disease. Good 

 ordinary shoeing is often all that is required, but no doubt better 

 and quicker results wUl be obtained by the shoe with short branches, 

 with the flat shoe, or with the Charlier shoe. 



The half shoe, the shoe with short branches {fer a croissant), 

 originally recommended by Cesar Tiaschi, then by Solleysel, La- 



