810 YETEPJNAEY HYGIENE 



shoes being put on too short or left on too long. Narrow 

 heeled shoes are also a prolific cause of corn. Weak dry 

 walls frequently fracture under the strain of work, con- 

 stituting a sand crack. 



Injury may occur to the feet as the result of the shoes 

 being fitted too hot. This is only likely to happen in a 

 horse with an abnormally thin sole, or one where the sole 

 has been pared out ' until it springs under the pressure of 

 the thumb.' 



Injury from nails being driven too close is probably the 

 least frequent accident in shoeing. It is an annoying occur- 

 rence, but if the man is sober it should be treated as such. 

 In fact, we doubt whether any other mechanic could drive 

 thousands of nails every year through a structure from one 

 quarter to half an inch in thickness, and have such 

 immunity from accident. It increases our respect for the 

 mechanical skill of the farrier, when we bear in mind it is 

 only by sound that he knows whether the nail is taking the 

 right direction or not. 



Diseases arising from Neglect. — Clean stable floors and 

 cleanliness of the feet are most important factors in 

 keeping the feet healthy, especially the pad and the sole. 

 The hind feet are the most liable to be affected with 

 thrush, and they are more exposed to the action of urine 

 and faeces, and further owing to the prevalence of ' calkins ' 

 or thickened heels ground pressure is seldom given. 



Horses left standing on filthy litter, puddles of urine or 

 feet balled up with fseces, foul moss litter or other 

 absorbent bedding very soon contract disease of the foot 

 pad, and the soles become cheesy and crumble away. 

 Cleanliness of stable floors is a hygienic necessity ; if the 

 above conditions become aggravated even canker may 

 appear. 



Injuries arising from Work. — Injuries which occur to the 

 feet at work are due generally to picked up nails or 

 stones. The former may be extremely dangerous and 

 have ruined many a horse. Their serious nature depends 

 upon where they enter; an inch or so from the point of the 



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