148 
ON LAMINITIS. 
The fore shoe from the other horse weighed thirteen ounces 
and was replaced by a bar shoe weighing over two pounds. 
As soon as those shoes were put on instant relief was afforded. 
The horses stood and moved with a degree of comfort in 
comparison to the state they were previously in. After 
being regularly exercised on the road for about a fort¬ 
night, they were so much improved that I told the owners 
that they were nearly fit to leave. Unfortunately they 
were placed for convenience in two loose boxes which were 
covered with sawdust. After being there a few days, one of 
the horses became quite lame in both hind feet, which had 
tar stoppings and false leathers. Thinking that the pain and 
lameness were caused by pressure from the sawdust, I re¬ 
moved the false leather and put on ordinary leather soles, 
which I thought w^ould be sufficient to remove the cause, but 
I soon found that it was not, for the feet still became balled 
with the dust, and as a consequence inflammation was set up 
in the soles, which became under-run. Soon after this oc¬ 
curred, ray attention was drawn to the other horse, which 
began to show signs of pain and lameness, as it appeared 
upon examination from the same cause. I then had the 
sawdust replaced by straw, and both cases immediately began 
to improve, and have since gone on well. In confirmation of 
the above statement, I refer to Mr. James, M.R.C.V.S., 
Corsham, near Chippenham, who has been watching the cases 
from the commencement for his own information. 
Mr. Fleming also condemns the ordinary seated shoe, and 
recommends that a portion of the weight be thrown on to 
the sole and frog, that by such means deformed feet (sunken 
soles, I presume), can be restored or nearly.^’ My expe¬ 
rience has taught me to protect from pressure the soles of 
feet which have become deformed, and I am not acquainted 
with any system of shoeing, beyond the mere fact of leaving 
the parts unpared, which gives salutary pressure to the sole. 
The treatment of cases of canker shows how difficult it is to 
apply and keep up pressure to the sole and frog, unless the 
stopping is kept in by pieces of hoop iron placed under the 
shoe. The pressure received from Chinese straw shoes, or 
Cherry’s footpads, I look upon as more ideal than real. It 
has been long known to experienced veterinary surgeons and 
farriers that good feet do not require seated shoes. 
There is no doubt that horses’ feet are by many farriers 
most grossly mutilated by the knife, and the system of not 
paring ought to be carried out as far as possible. 
