INJURIES PRODUCED BY STRIKING, AND THEIR COMPLICATIONS. 767 
“ Horse-shoeing and the Horse’s Foot,” pp. 286 to 800.) After lowering 
the outer wall sufficiently to, at least, prevent it meeting the ground 
sooner than the inner, the edge of the latter is somewhat rounded off, 
and a close-fitted cutting shoe applied. Should the inner wall be too 
low, it must be raised by placing leather, &c., under the shoe. 
Inj uries produced by striking must be treated according to their 
character. Complications are best prevented by carefully cleansing the 
wound, and smearing it with tar, creolin, or other antiseptic. Such 
precautions are particularly necessary in winter, and when the roads are 
dirty (see also “Dermatitis Gangrenosa”). Especial care is required if 
the skin be perforated, as the entrance of infective material into the 
subcutis then is greatly favoured. 
When suppuration is already established, the first precaution must be 
to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the wound, so as to prevent further 
extension. After-treatment is based on general principles. Cold appli¬ 
cations are contra-indicated, and should be replaced by moist warmth 
in the form of warm baths containing a disinfectant. If cellulitis extend 
further upwards, the limb should be enveloped in cotton-wool or tow 
saturated with disinfectants, or when little assistance is available, the 
leg may be smeared with grey ointment. Immediately pain diminishes 
and swelling commences to recede, slow exercise should be given to 
hasten resorption. 
Double precautions are required in subfascial inflammation. When 
located in the fetlock or near the tendon sheath, permanent lukewarm 
baths, containing disinfectants such as creolin, carbolic, Ac., are indicated, 
and immediately fluctuation can be detected, the swelling should be 
opened, though due care must be exercised to avoid injuring large blood¬ 
vessels and nerves, or opening the capsule of the joint or sheath of the 
tendons. When the joint or the tendon sheath is implicated operation 
is better avoided, because in such cases no good can result, and the 
owner is apt to conclude that the use of the knife was responsible for 
the fatal result. 
Swelling in the soft tissues around the coronet is relieved by thinning 
the horn wall. Gangrene and the verrucous form of grease are treated 
on the lines indicated when speaking of these conditions. Rings and 
boots, often recommended against striking, are seldom of much value. 
Some horses are so apt to strike that not even the most careful shoeing 
is sufficient to prevent them injuring themselves, and in such cases 
boots may be tried. They require, however, to be so fashioned as not to 
be displaced if struck, nor cause injuries if tightly buckled. The best 
form of boot contains a zinc plate exactly responding to the oval form 
of the fetlock. 
The straw and indiarubber rings often used in draught-horses force 
