THE MORSE’S FOOT 
5 
mal hesitates and stumbles easily. But if the disease is advanced 
the lameness is great and the animal is very groggy in his gait. 
He fears to rest on his heels, which without being a peculiar 
characteristic is a symptom which presents, however, a particu¬ 
larly noticeable condition. While there is hesitation in the action 
of resting, there is difficulty in that of the shoulder. This is 
principally observable when the disease affects both feet. The 
shoulders then seem to he fixed to the trnnk, and their motion 
forward is very limited. The symptoms are mostly more marked 
when the animal leaves the stable. It may then happen that the 
pain temporarily losing somewhat of its intensity as the horse 
is moved, the shoulders become more free, the liberty of action 
returns, and once wanned up, the animal may offer a totally 
different appearance from that when first leaving the stable. 
But as soon as they become rested, the pain returns as severely 
as before, if not more so, and with it the same exhibition of 
symptoms. 
The examination of the unshod foot while it is warm, shows 
the extreme sensibility of the heels. The foot being pared, gen¬ 
erally one may observe, in the region where the contraction is 
most marked, yellowish or reddish discolorations, evidences of 
the bruises in the living parts, as well as of the serous or bloody 
exudations which have taken place on their surfaces. These 
indications are especially abundant on the level of the sole and 
wall. If the contraction is old, there is at that point a pul¬ 
verulent mass which when removed, leaves a cavity which some¬ 
times extends upwards under the quarters. It is a separation 
of the wall, of two or three centimeters in depth. 
An important observation for hoof-bound, and which assists 
in its recognition, is the increased wear upon the shoes at the 
toe, which takes place not only when animals are working, but 
also while idle in the stable as the result of pointing and scrap¬ 
ing the stable floor. The horse which has both feet diseased 
is constantly in motion, to such an extent that his shoes are 
entirely worn in a few days. 
At times the pain is so great that it gives rise to general 
symptoms; the animal becomes anxious, loses his appetite, re- 
