WEAKNESS OF THE FOOT. 
187 
Symptoms.— When the foot is in a healthy condition, the 
back cartilages will yield to the pressure of the fingers 
on the coronet over the quarters. But when ossification 
commences, and the complaint progresses, then a commensu¬ 
rate degree of resistance manifests itself, and in process of 
time it will no longer yield to any pressure It is then 
certain that complete ossification of the cartilages has taken 
place. During the transformation of the cartilage into bone 
no visible inflammation is observable m the foot, nor does 
much lameness appear; and indeed frequently lameness is 
not at all manifested, although a slight stiffness may be 
noticed. These observations apply to cart-horses, or such 
as require only to be worked at a slow pace; but in horses 
that go at a rapid pace, it amounts to positive lameness. 
When this complaint is connected with ringbone, very gieat 
lameness is the consequence. 
Remedies. —Unless this disease is taken at its commence¬ 
ment, no treatment can avail; for the bony deposit once 
having taken place, there is no possibility of restoring the 
cartilage. When it is detected in its first formation, blisters 
and the use of the cautery may arrest its progress, and 
entirely remove it. We know of no other application, 
except rubbing the cartilage smartly with iodine morning 
and evening, which may restore the action of the secreting 
vessels to a healthy state. 
WEAKNESS OF THE FOOT. 
This is merely a conventional term in general use among 
horsemen and dealers, which might with more propriety be 
denominated “ malformation of the foot,” because, in point 
of fact, it is rather a bad formation than a disease. In many 
instances it is a natural infirmity, and likewise proceeds 
frem some other disease. The natural slant or angle of the 
