Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/355

 VETERINARY SCIENCE 335 the foot. This tendon and its synovial sheath also participate in the disease. These struc- tures lie directly above the anterior part or body of the horny frog, which thus serves as a protecting cushion or pad. Besides the general faults of nutrition predisposing to bone disease, rheumatism, hard work, faulty shoeing, and neglect of or injury to the feet contribute to its development. It is particularly liable to complicate injuries of the heel, the inflamma- tion extending by proximity to the bursa of the flexor tendon and the navicular bone. Hence rapid paces and the system of shoeing are largely chargeable with the disease. In France, where the shoeing generally is good and protective, the affection is comparatively rare ; in England the rapid paces and the sys- tematic weakening of the feet in shoeing ren- der it exceedingly prevalent ; but in America, through the fondness for trotting, poor shoe- ing, and rough, uneven roads, there are incom- parably more cases than in either. The con- tinued idleness of horses during our rigorous winters, broken by occasional fast drives, and the general disorder caused by an overfeed of grain, or a drink of iced water when hot and exhausted, are not to be overlooked. The af- fected foot may be pointed eight or ten inches in front of the other, with the heel slightly raised, for months before actual lameness ap- pears. The horse steps short, stumblingly, and on the toe when first brought out, but the lame- ness diminishes or disappears after he has gone a mile or two. It is worse again when cooled down after a long or hard drive. It may also appear at work as an occasional stumble, or a temporary dropping on the sound foot. The shoe is worn at the toe, and the foot is warm at its posterior part, and steadily shrinks so as to be visibly smaller than its fellow. There is flinching when the sole is tapped with a ham- mer on each side of the body of the frog or on the wall in the region of the quarter. The same results from pressure of the thumb over the flexor tendon, behind the pastern, as far down as can be reached in the hollow of the heel. The wasting of the muscles of the limb and shoulder from disuse deludes many with the idea that the lesion is resident there. Treat- ment is not often satisfactory, except in recent cases. To soothe inflammation, give a dose of physic, remove the shoe, shorten the toe, leav- ing the heel of its full height, keep the horse standing throughout the day in cold water or a puddle of wet clay reaching to the top of the hoof, and apply a mild blister to the front and sides of the pastern, repeating it when the scab from the first has come off. Obstinate cases will sometimes recover under the action of frog setons and a long run in a wet pasture, while for those that are otherwise useless the sensi- tive nerves going to the foot may be divided, when all pain and lameness will cease. But this is only advisable in chronic cases, when the best system of shoeing can be secured, when the feet ean be cleaned and examined 818 VOL. xvi. 22 on each return from work, and when they can be kept covered with wet swabs while stand- ing indoors. Founder is an inflammation of the secreting structures of the foot, but espe- cially of the lamin which connect the hoof wall with the sensitive parts anteriorly. It results from direct injury, as over-exertion on hard roads, blows, bruises, freezing, pricks or binding with nails, unequal pressure of the shoe on different points, or the long strain on the feet during a sea voyage ; or it may result from a sudden chill, a drink of cold water when heated and fatigued, an overfeed of grain, es- pecially if new or only partially ripened, an overdose of purgative medicine, or as a sequel of disease of the lungs or other internal organ. When not caused by direct injury to the foot, it is usually introduced by fever, staring coat, or shivering and general stiffness and soreness, without at first any great tenderness of the feet. Soon the disease concentrates itself in the anterior part of the fore feet (rarely the hind), and the patient leans back, rests on his heels, and brings his hind feet forward to bear as much weight as possible. If urged to move, he sways back, dragging the fore feet on the heels, or lifts both at once and comes down on the heels only. The feet are hot and ex- tremely tender to the hammer or pincers, and the patient resists all efforts to lift them. The pulse is rapid and hard, the breathing hurried, and the skin often perspiring. In the mild forms there is less fever and local suffering, but in all cases the walking on the heels and the heat and tenderness of the feet are char- acteristic. The preliminary stage of general stiffness may often be cut short by a free per- spiration induced by wrapping in a blanket wrung out of hot water and closely covered by several dry ones, or by heavy dry clothing and full doses of aconite, lobelia, or tobacco. Others attain the same end by walking the patient, barefoot or with broad-webbed bar shoes, on a newly ploughed field. But if some inflam- mation has set in, the feet must be unshod, and enveloped in large, soft, warm poultices ; a laxative should be given if the bowels are not too irritable, followed by sedatives and cooling diuretics, and the patient coaxed or even compelled to lie down. When nearly well, a slight blister round the coronet, and a moist clay paddock, or hoof ointments, may perfect the cure. Corns are common as simple bruises of the heel (usually the inner), often resulting in high strong heels, from accumula- tion of dry hard flakes of horn when the shoes have been left on too long ; in weak ones from undue paring of the sole between the wall and the bars ; and in all from the pressure of stones or hardened earth or clay, or the setting in of the shoe when drawn too far forward by the growth of the toe. If of old standing, there is often a horny swelling in the seat of the bruise, pressing inward on the quick. Other results are distortion of the heels of the coffin bone, ossification of the lateral cartilages which