70 OBSERVATIONS ON INJURIES, ETC., AMONG ARMY HORSES. 
We question whether any particular kind of shoeing is very 
effective as a curative agent ; it may be useful after an unin- 
terrupted circle of horn has ’ commenced to grow to pre- 
vent a recurrence or any extension into the newly formed 
structure, together with the use of a leather compress, or one 
of some other material. 
Many ordinary cases have done well without shoes. The 
removal of pressure from the affected part is said to be 
beneficial by notching the hoof just above the shoe under the 
direction of the crack. On this point our experience makes 
us sceptically inclined. We fancy that in one case we saw 
benefit result from the use of a shoe fitted to the outside of 
the hoof like a hoop, only open at the posterior part. The 
shoe was very difficult both to make and fit ; the nails were 
driven from the outside and above downwards, and clenched 
underneath. It remained on a month, and was then removed 
for the examination of the foot. Though the horse had 
walking exercise twice daily, the shoe was not disturbed. 
Luxation of the patella occurred twice in the same horse in 
an upward direction, and once in another horse ; how to 
account for these cases we cannot say, but it is not unlikely 
that the heel ropes, in constraining the movements of the 
hind limbs when a horse is rising from the recumbent posture, 
may have had something to do in causing them. More of 
heel-ropes shortly. Luxation was reduced by forcing the 
horses to move suddenly and sharply after the affected parts 
had been well hand-rubbed — summary, but effectual treat- 
ment. 
Fracture of the patella, with a relation of other fractures, 
will form the matter for a subsequent paper. 
Head-ropes and chains ; heel-ropes and chains. — Respecting 
the former, there is not much to report, but respecting the 
latter, we must apologise for being lengthy. Most Govern- 
ment horses in India are secured by single hempen ropes 
attached by hooks to the head stalls, and to pegs firmly 
driven in the ground in front of them; vicious horses are 
generally secured by two head-ropes, or by two head-chains 
running right and left from the head stall to the pegs. 
Each horse of our battery is secured by a chain, which 
averages 3 lb. weight. A horse fastened by two chains had 
94- lb. hanging to his head, including a head stall and a 
collar ; another, secured with a rope and simple head stall, 
carried lb. only. We have before alluded to a head stall 
and chain weighing about 14 lb. For these differences in the 
weight of the stable head gear there is no necessity. We 
often wonder whether the employment of head and heel chains 
