272 
TREATMENT OF CANKER. 
the hoof, until the frog and solar surface are at every step 
brought in contact with the ground ; the animal being left 
without shoes. Of course, the paring down of the crust 
must be done sufficiently often, so as to keep pace with its 
rapid growth. If the animal cannot go barefooted, then the 
most convenient method of applying pressure is by means of 
an iron plate adapted to the sole of the foot, and made up of 
two halves. 
This plate should be constructed of tolerably stout sheet- 
iron, about one eighth of an inch in thickness, the circum- 
ferent edges being thinned, so as to pass under the shoe. The 
whole, w hen ready for use, must be a little wider and longer 
than the inner w T eb of the shoe. At the front and back of 
the plate the tw 7 o halves are jointed by rivets, on the ground 
surface. Across the jointure tw 7 o bars are placed, one on 
each half of the plate, wffiich are likewise united by a rivet, 
thus allow ing of their being turned on one side, or parallel 
with the long diameter of the plate. The opposite end of 
each bar has a hole to admit a countersunk screw 7 , and 
wffiich, by means of a screw-driver, is passed into a hole on 
each plate, tapped for the purpose, thus keeping the whole 
firmly together. 
However unique our means may be for applying pressure, 
it does not produce the same results as being barefoot ; be- 
cause, first, the rapid growth of the w 7 all is constantly taking 
the diseased parts from the seat of pressure ; and, secondly, 
from the fact of the foot being kept covered, it favours the 
growth of the fungoid excrescences ; added to which, the pain 
occasioned by the necessary frequent removal and hammering 
on of the shoes, makes the case one of the greatest inconveni- 
ence, to say the least of it, to both practitioner and animal. 
Having noticed this disease to some extent, and the cha- 
racter of the horses in which it is most frequent, I am of 
opinion that if more attention w 7 ere paid to the te shoeing 
department/’ and also to the sanitary condition of the stabling, 
the disease would be of seldom occurrence. Go where w 7 e 
w 7 ill, we find smiths who are more fond of cutting away of 
the heels, scooping out the soles, and, with the rasp, polishing 
up the outer surface of the outer wall, than is consistent w ith 
the welfare of any horse’s foot; and, as a result, we have 
long toes, low 7 heels, and w 7 eak feet, such being the obvious 
causes of corns, sesamoiditis, and other incidental lesions, &c. 
Returning to the subject of pressure, I dare say many 
practitioners have seen its wonderful effects in that disease 
termed frush, or thrush. Miles* mentions two cases which 
* Miles, ‘ On the Horse’s Foot,’ p. 57. 
