612 
W. I1RYDEN 
is found to be red. At next shoeing - it will be a brown color * 
next it will be still browner, and so on till the wall and sole 
are entirely separated and crumbling. A gradual destruct¬ 
ive change takes place within the foot where the circulation 
and other vital functions have been gradually becoming more 
disturbed and interfered with, perhaps for months. Acci¬ 
dents, such as burning with a hot shoe, must not be mistaken 
for this disease in its earlist stages. As the coronet gradually 
tightens it exerts mechanical pressure on the coronary cush¬ 
ion and laminae, the circulation is diminished in force and 
volume, and the wall shortens more and more from the ex¬ 
tremities of its horn fibres crumbling faster than it grows, till 
it cannot be leached by the nails. When the foot is without 
protection from either horn or shoe it is unfit for work until 
nature has restoied the part sufficiently to secure the shoe 
with nails. 
The stage at which this disease has arrived indicates with 
considerable exactness both its age and the time required for 
its repair. As already stated, cases vary accordingly as they 
reveal a history of gradual invasion, or evidence of having! 
been hastened by some coincident, such as an accident, or 
from harsh or improper treatment.' 
With your permission I will now illustrate my remarks 
by describing the treatment of the Medford horse. It was i 
my good fortune to find the superintendent, Mr. Arthur 
Symms, a gentleman of more than ordinary judgment in mat¬ 
ters pertaining to the horse’s feet and limbs. He did not ex- | 
pect me to peifoim a miracle, or to cure the beast in one or 
two times shoeing. After examining the case carefully, I as¬ 
sured him that complete recovery was possible, but that it 
would take at least eight months before he could again be 
used on the engine, as it would require that length of time 
before the hoof could grow down sufficiently for a shoe to be 
fastened so as to be equal to the quick, heavy work demanded 
in such a place. During most of the time, I further assured 
him, the horse could do enough slow, light work to pay for his 
keep, and as I would only require to see him about once a month 
it w ould pay well to treat him rather than sacrifice a gQod 
