DISEASES OF THE FOOT AND SHOEING 279 



intense. When standing, the hind legs are placed well forward 

 under the bpdy to get as much relief as is possible. A foundered 

 horse cannot be made to back; he even moves forward 

 unwillingly. 



Treatment. — The patient will be given great relief by cold- 

 water applications to the feet. An easy way to apply moist 

 cold is to saturate gunny sacks with water, or the animal may be 

 made to stand in a foot-bath. The administration of 2 to 4 

 ounces of saltpeter in the drinking-water three times daily is an 

 old remedy. If the patient is costive he should be given a quart 

 of raw linseed oil. Modern veterinarians rely upon arecoline or 

 aconitine given hypodermically. The grain ration should be 

 materially cut down. 



Chronic founder develops from the acute form. The coffin- 

 bone rotates and presses on the upper surface of the sole, 

 which in turn gives under the pressure and a "dropped sole" 

 results. 



Symptoms. — The changes mentioned lead to the formation of 

 prominent rings and a concave instead of a straight toe wall. 

 When standing, the horse shifts his weight from one foot to the 

 other; when traveling, the gait is stiff and the steps short and 

 choppy. This peculiarity has led horsemen to believe that the 

 soreness is in the chest, the pectoral muscles of which atrophy, 

 and has given rise to the misnomer "chest founder." 



Treatment. — Permanent relief cannot be expected from any 

 line of treatment. However, by keeping the toe rasped down 

 and applying a rubber heel pad or bar shoe a badly affected 

 animal may be kept from getting severely lame, and should give 

 good service on soft roads or ground. Hoof-packings and dress- 

 ings to supply and conserve the moisture of the foot often afford 

 material help. Point firing around the coronet has not given 

 entire satisfaction, although sometimes used. 



SIDEBONE 



A sidebone occurs when one of the lateral cartilages attached 

 to the wing of the third phalanx or coffin-bone ossifies (Fig. 74). 

 There are various causes of which a hereditary predisposition to 

 lime salt deposition in cartilaginous tissue appears to be the most 

 common. Horses with flat feet and weak quarters are also pre- 



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