LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
4 
may be, at the point of crossing, well hammered down upon the 
foot; an operation which will serve to accomodate them more 
completely to their situation, at the same time that it operates in 
giving additional pressure, which will be maintained when the 
foot comes to be set upon the ground by the standing of the horse 
upon the compressed dressing. 
In regard to the best medicament to apply, providing the 
exposed parts of the sensitive sole be — as they commonly are — 
in a healthy condition, stimulating applications agree best, and 
no one in the class exceeds in efficacy the ol. terebinthinae. 
This, under the influence of pressure, will generally of itself 
bring about all we desire ; though, should any change of dress- 
ing be deemed desirable, we may use either tinct. benzoin c5., 
or tinct. myrrhse co. Should any signs of unhealthiness or ma- 
lignancy — a rare occurrence — make their appearance, escharotic 
stimulants, such as solutions of copper and zinc, and even of 
mercury, might be employed. An astringent, such as solution 
of alum, or a detergent in the form of chloride of lime, may also 
occasionally be required. 
Having succeeded in healing the wound and causing the 
breach to be covered over with sound though soft horn, a dossil of 
dry tow well pressed down will be all that will be further needed 
to keep the dirt and wet from the parts, and to harden and prepare 
them for being finally stopped and protected from injury when 
the horse shall be permitted to take exercise or go to work. 
The new-formed sole being now sound and tolerably firm and 
hard, should a shoe have not been nailed on the foot before, now 
is the time for one to be put on. And the shoe best for such a 
description of foot is that which will, either of itself or through 
additions made to it, enable us to give that amount of pressure 
upon the sole which is found to be so requisite for the purposes 
of support and uplifting of the descended coffin-bone, to the extent 
possible, into some proximity to its original place. Whether 
we really possess any such power as will effect this, may very 
properly be made the subject of doubt ; but that we can, by 
pressure and support to the sole, prevent any further descent of 
it, should that appear likely to happen, is beyond a question. 
A broad-web shoe — such a one as Plomley’s of Maidstone — is 
a good one for this purpose ; and this should be plugged in- 
ternally with stopping, intermingled with tow, the two together 
forming a compressible pillow, upon which reposes with ease 
and firmness the as yet tender sole of the foot. Over the 
stopping and tow should be placed, and nailed on with the shoe, 
a stiff piece of sole leather. Or, which some prefer, after the 
shoe is nailed on, a piece of gutta percha, cut of smaller size 
than the circumference of the shoe, may, after being softened in 
