Foot and Limb Troubles. 227 



the small cannon bone, notice being taken of any varia- 

 tion from the smoothness of those bones. The lameness 

 is due to the stretching of the periosteum during the 

 throwing out of the bony material (splint formation), the 

 lameness quite often disappears when once the splint is 

 formed, and the enlargement may also disappear in the 

 same manner that a callus does. The lameness shown is 

 often out of all proportion to the size of the splint, those 

 more serious are close up to the knee joint, exercise in- 

 creases the lameness. If no lameness is evident do not 

 bother the animal with blisters, etc., always let "well" 

 alone, if lame give rest, reduce any inflammation with 

 cold water, and thoroughly rub the parts firmly but 

 gently with an oiled leather-covered piece of wood once 

 daily, 15 minutes each time, if this fails the red mercury 

 blister may be applied a few times at two weeks inter- 

 vals. Splints are more common on the fore legs than on 

 the hind ones, and oftenest on the inner side of the limb. 



Scratches, mud fever, cracked heels, are relatives, all 

 being a form of skin trouble of the limbs, often the re- 

 sult of too much washing, clipping the limbs, or an alka- 

 line mud. 



The parts should be thoroughly cleansed with warm 

 water and castile soap, well dried, and clean, sweet fat 

 (unsalted) rubbed in, or a little iodoform and boracic 

 acid can be mixed with the lard in the proportion of 1 

 to 10 and applied; speaking of this trouble Capt. Hayes 

 says ' ' that the external use of water should be confined 

 to the animal's muzzle, eyes, dock, and sheath." If any 

 inflammation is present poultice with a turnip poultice 



