154 
A. ZUNDEL. 
it drops down, without disturbing the screw, a record being made 
of the degree of dilatation secured, upon the graduated register. 
After three or four days the same operation is repeated, the 
spreading being then not more than four or five millimetres. It 
must be less than at the first, because at the beginning the less 
perfect contact between the projection of the heels of the shoe 
and the wall has allowed a considerable amount of dilatation 
without producing much result. These repeated dilatations once 
in four days for a month, are assisted by the application of soft 
poultices in horses which, on account of the pain and consequent 
lameness, are kept in the stable. Others may be put to work, and 
receive poultices only when at rest, or may be turned into damp 
fields. The shoe rarely needs changing during the treatment, 
which lasts about a month. This mode of opening the heels is 
especially practicable and of easy application, and has the advan¬ 
tage of allowing the use of the horse, whose foot is as well pro¬ 
tected as with the ordinary shoe. It becomes indispensable when 
the disease has been of long continuance and is accompanied with 
much lameness. It is liable to but one contra-indication, and that 
is when the foot is not sufficiently strong to hold it, by reason of 
the heels having been pared down excessively. It has been tested 
for a long time, not only by the Defays, Senior and Junior, but 
by many others. II. Bouley, in France, with Hartmann and 
Mayer in Germany, recommend it as an excellent curative treat¬ 
ment. 
We must again mention the simple and light desencasteleur of 
Jovard, (fig. 20) which is as powerful as that of Defays. It is 
Fig. 20. 
composed exclusively of a double vice, with opposite threads, 
opening or closing two strong claws, which are applied upon the 
internal borders of the branches of the shoe; a rod of iron is in¬ 
troduced in the holes at the head of the vice and puts the instru¬ 
ment in motion. 
