HORSESHOEING. 



129 



most of the defects of the hoof itself. All these things lead, 

 under certain conditions, to lameness. 



Treatment. — First of all, the discovered causes should be re- 

 moved, or, if this is not possible, as is frequently the case, they 

 should be ameliorated. Very often the lameness may be removed 

 by proper shoeing, a change in the animal's work, and better 

 care of the hoof. When there is intense inflammation within 

 the foot, the shoe should be removed for a few days. When the 

 inflammation is moderate and confined to a small area, it is 

 usually sufficient to alter the shoeing by regulating unnatural 

 relations of height in the different parts of the wall, and by re- 

 moving all superfluous horn from the wall and sole (to a less 

 degree from the frog), partly for the purpose of rendering the 

 horn capsule more yielding, and partly to make the poultices 

 which are used more effective. The shoe is then to be so applied 

 that the diseased region will be relieved of the body-weight, and 

 will remain free from all pressure from the shoe. This can be 

 done partly by making the underlying branch of the shoe 

 somewhat wider and longer than 

 the other, and partly by cutting 

 down the bearing-edge of the 

 wall where this is possible with- 

 out weakening it too much, other- 

 wise by concaving or beatinj 

 down the upper surface of thi 

 shoe. By reason of the fact that 

 the posterior half of the hoof ii 

 the seat of most diseases of the 

 hoof, it is to be recommended that 

 the nail-holes in shoes used in 

 these diseases be placed as far as 

 possible in the anterior half of the 

 shoe, and in some special cases 



distributed evenly around the toe. Among shoes suitable for dis- 

 eased hoofs the bar-shoe (Fig. 118) holds the first place, because 



9 



Fig. 118. 



Bar-shoe for right loot. 



