A PRACTICAL TREATISE
ON THE
DISEASES
OF
THE FOOT OF THE HORSE.
store
32563
^ University
P of Glasgow
Library
A
practical ^vmtm
ON THE
DISEASES
OF
THE FOOT OF THE HORSE j
CONTA-INING
A CORRECT DESCRIPTION
OF
THEIR NATURE, CAUSES, AND METHODS OF
PREVENTION :
WITH
SUGGESTIONS OF IMPROVED PLANS OF TREATMENT, FOUNDEB
ON PHYSIOLOGICAIi PRINCIPLES.
ALSO,
RULES OF SHOEING,
Br WHICH
THE ORDINARY EVILS ATTENDING THIS PROCESS MAY BE IN
SOME MEASURE PREVENTED.
DeDt'caten, perintsifiion,
TO SAMPSON HANBURY, ESQ.
BY RICHARD HAYWARD BUDD,
VETERINARY SURGEON.
ILonbon :
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORMB, AND BROWN,
PATERNOSTER ROW.
OF
Stiniar'Siret/, London,
I
DEDICATION
TO
SAMPSON HANBURY, ESQ.
SIR,
In the dedication of the following
pages, the first-fruits of my literary
labours, to you, I embrace the
opportunity of acknowledging an ob-
ligation which, in common with my
professional brethren, I owe to all
Vi BEDICATION.
who have taken an interest in, and
encouraged the progress of the Ve-
terinary Science ; and, witnessing as
I do, the constant and increasing
solicitude you manifest in every thing
connected with the welfare of the .
Horse, I look forward with confi-
dence to the further extension of the
advantages which that Science is ca-
pable of affording. Your example,
Sir, can never be neglected by the
extensive circle of Friends which the
urbanity of your conduct and cha-
racter will ' ever draw around you ;
and upon those Friends, and such as
those, necessarily men of superior
talents and attainments, the Veteri-
/
DEDICATION. VII
nary Science must depend for its
support and final establishment.
Independent of these considera-
tions, however, Sir, I was anxious
to select a Patron, whose name
would at once be an honour to my
Book, and whose knowledge of its
subjects qualified him to be a judge
of its contents. That I have been
fortunate in each of these respects, in
the liberty you have allowed me, every
one who has the pleasure of your ac-
quaintance will readily acknowledge;
and that you may long live to en-
joy that truly noble and benevolent
feeling which prompts you to make
vm DEDICATION.
the most useful of our domestic
animals an object of solicitude, is
the wish of,
Sir,
Your most obliged
humble Servant,
R. H. BUDD.
72, Curtain Roady
Feb, 14, 1816.
INTRODUCTION.
Since my first entrance into the Veteri-
nary Profession, I have not been an inat-
tentive observer of the destructive effects
of disease on the Foot of the Horse ; and it
appeared to me that Veterinary Practi-
tioners, however correct and minute they
may have been in speaking of the consti*
tutional diseases of the animal, and their
treatment, had not bestowed even the ne-
cessary degree of attention on those oc^^
curring as the result of injuries sustained
by this particular part. I was led to this
X INTRODUCTION.
conclusion by observing how tedious and
unsatisfactory was the usual progress of
cure in such diseases of the Foot as were
considered curable, and the great number
of animals which were led to the slaughter-
house in consequence of disease of this part
originally produced by accidents of the most
trifling nature. The immense number of
horses of all kinds which were thus annually
sacrificed, seemed to be a consideration
sufficiently important to warrant a minute
investigation; and, as a preparatory step
towards the discovery of any thing con-
nected with this subject, which may have
previously not been very generally known,
I was induced to refer to those writers who
had bestowed attention on it : nothing sa-
tisfactory, however, was the result ; and I
was left almost entirely without assistance,
to pursue the object I had in view. A
series of experiments, comparative of the
INTRODUCTION.
xi
effects of the most successful of the plans
usually employed, with others, which a
physiological view of the subject seemed to
dictate, has clearly convinced me that the
grand cause of the obstinacy which such
diseases have manifested, has been, impro-
priety of treatment. It has long since,
indeed, appeared to me, that such ex-
tremely severe and destructive applica-
tions as are commonly used, could not be
generally necessary ; but inquiry only
could enable me to obtain that knowledge,
of the disease in which they were employed,
necessary to speak decisively of their ef-
fects ; and I am now warranted in the as-
sertion, that the most common methods of
treatment adopted in many of the diseases
of which I have spoken, instead of hasten-
ing the cure, tend diametrically to oppose
the means which nature herself would,
unrestricted, adopt for such a purpose.
■ •
INTRODUCTION.
Whole volumes have been written respect-
ing the practice of shoeing, and the best
methods of preventing contraction : new
fashions of the shoe were successively pro-
duced, as calculated to effect this object;
and these fashions were honoured by their
inventors with the title of Principles;
hence " Shoeing upon a new Principle"
never failed to attract attention, as it held
out a hope of escaping the mischiefs which
were known to attend the preceding.
None of these alterations in the shoe,
however, realized the expectations of those
who employed them ; for they all seemed
to have the same effect. The reason is ob-
vious : these fanciful changes deserved, in
no part of them, the name of Principles ;
but all agreed in that which is now known
to be the cause of contraction ; they were
all inflexible, equally restraining the ex^
pansion of the hoof in its growth, and
destroying the action of the quarters.
INTRODUCTION.
* • «
xni
While so much attention,^ therefore, has
been bestowed on this subject, it is a matter
of surprize that those accidental diseases,
which are the subjects of the present Work,
should have obtained so small a share : that
the Foot is more frequently the seat of dis-
ease than any other part ; and that a know-
ledge of it is highly important every one
seems to be sensible of : perhaps also, more
attention is necessary in order to under-
stand its diseases and their treatment ; for
it will be observed, that the majority of the
constitutional diseases of the horse having
something analogous in those of the human
body are hence furnished with a sound
principle on which their treatment may
be founded. What will subdue inflam-
mation in the human subject, will in
the horse ; and abstraction of blood is
found equally effectual in both; but the
Foot of the Horse has no resemblance
to any part of the human subject, and
consequently its treatment under dis-
ease must be governed by considerations
which are pecuhar to it. That every part
of it is destined to secrete horn is a fact
which must always be borne in mind ; and
this consideration will at once show, that a
different plan from that at present in com-
mon use will be necessary ; for the present
practice, to be brief, consists of little else
than the indiscriminate application of caus-
tics ; and a repetition of these, in the com-
mon manner, must necessarily debilitate
the parts to which they are applied, and
render them more and more incapable of
performing their office.
It has been an object, in the present
Work, to point out the plan of treatment
in each disease which has been found most
successful : the Rules which I myself have
found it necessary to observe, are parti-
INTRODUCTION.
XV
cularl J noticed ; and of a proper attention to
these, I feel justified in the assertion, that
uniform success will be the result.
The chief motive of my commission of
the following pages to the press was, that
I thought that the}^ contained facts which
would materially contribute to improve
the Veterinary Science, so far as regards
their particular subjects. While, however,
I found it necessary, occasionally, to use
expressions and language, connected rather
deeply with the Science, I endeavoured,
as much as possible, to avoid technical
terms ; and, where these were absolutely
necessary, their explanation has been at-
tempted. I was induced to follow this
plan, from the conviction, that those who
at present have the management of the
majority of these cases consigned to them,
will not be induced to adopt the treatment
XVI INTRODUCTION.
I have ventured to recommend, or to de-
part, in a single instance, from the absurd
practices of their predecessors, without the
interference of authority ; and, by ren-
dering my meaning intelligible to all, I
have given the unprofessional reader that
opportunity of judging of the treatment he
sees resorted to, which will enable him, in
situations where the aid of a Veterinary
Surgeon cannot easily be obtained, at least
to protect the animal from the torture of
improper applications.
If any of these objects have been ac-
complished in this Work, I shall be amply
recompenced for the time and attention
which it has occupied.
CONTENTS^
CHAP. i.
tAGE.
^ANbCKACK . i . . i 1
Situation and Direction of ; . . 3
Origin of the Term ; i . * 5
Causes ; t . ^ .8
Consideration of Rules of Shoeing, by which its
original Cause may be in some measure
prevented . . . . lo
Its occurrence in the Inner Quarters of Saddle-
Horses explained . . * 16
In the Anterior jPart of the Hoofs of Draiight
Horses . , , ^7
b
XVill
CONTEiSTS.
PACK,
Common Method of Treatment . .19
Observations on it . . ^ g2
Improved Method detailed . . . 23
Inconvenience occasionally arising from Want of
a strict Attention to its Rules . 27
Laying the Shoe off the Part . .
Mistaken Notion respecting this, noticed . ib
Use of Ointments, &G. as preventing a Disposi-
tion to Crack in the Hoofs, and Cold
Moisture preferred . . .30
Turning out to Grass after the Cure . . 31
CHAP. II.
Of Corns . . . .32
Their Nature, Appearance and Situation de-
scribed . . , .33
Important Observation deduced
Circumstances favouring their Production
Manner of their Occurrence
Treatment . . , .
Thinning the Horn of the Part reprobated as a
Method of removing Pressure from the
Part and a Bar Shoe preferred , 40
35
ib
38
39
CONTENTS.
XIX
PAGE.
DifFerent /rreatment necessary where Suppura-
tion has occurred. • . . 42
Inconvenience of suffering the Shoe to remain
on too long, noticed . . • • 4-1
CHAP. III.
On Thrush . . » •
Origin of the Term
Anatomical Description of the Part concerned
Nature of the Disease and Manner of its Produc
tion explained
Idea of its being produced by Contraction ex
amined
Thrush occurring in the Foot of the Colt
Contraction existing with Thrush renders it more
difficult of cure.
Means of Prevention
Treatment . . i .
Utility of Pressure to the Diseased Surface, no
ticed . : . .
4(1
ib
48
52
5i
57
60
62
65
ib.
CHAP. IV.
Canker , . . * .. 69
b 2
CONTENTS.
PAGE,
Manner of its Occurrence described : 70
Nature of the Discharge nK.
Common Method of Treatment noticed . ib
Evils attending it ^-^
Nature of the Influence of Pressure where the
Horn has been detached by Disease, ex-
plained . . ^
Treatment , ; . ^
The Separated Horn to be removed . . gO
Method of appl^ying Pressure ... 82
Removal of the thin imperfect Shells of Horn
which first appear , . .83
Reasons for this explained . . .86
Splinters of Coffin-bone • ' . .89
Manner of their Occurrence . . . ib^
Treatment suggested . , ' ^
Tediousness of Exfoliation of Bone noticed, and
sawing out the diseased Part . , 92
Wounds of the Flexor Tendon ... 94
Sjmptoms , . . . ^ 95
^^se , . . ; , ^ QQ
Knowledge of this Accident important . . 99
Treatment ..... loo
CONTENTS.
xxi
CHAP. V.
PAGE,
KiNGBONE . . . f .
10^
Anatomical Description of the Parts concerned
lUU!
t • TVT J 1 • J
Its JNature explained t . ,
lUo
Connection with Contraction of the [Quarters
Jjameness occurring from Ringbone explained .
1 1 /f
Treatment . . , *
117
Utility of Blistering and Firing considered
ib,
jpian to be followed, where Lameness has been
produced by Ringbone
118
Cause of the Tenderness manifested by Horses
affected with Ringbone in dry weather,
explained , , . .
119
CHAP. VI.
QUITTOR .....
121
Manner of its Production ,
129
Treatment in it& incipient State . 123 and ISO
Common Method described and exposed
124
Different Manner of its first Appearance from
the preceding
128
Operation commonly had recourse to, considered,
and its Inconveniences detailed
m
xxii
CONTENTS.
r\ ■ • . PAGE,
Origin of this Operation
Blistering: the Coronet, as tending to produce
stronger Horn, noticed . ^
CHAP. V[L
Of Contraction; or, the Effects of the Appli,
cation of the Shoe . , 244
Causes considered .
• • • . 14:3
La Fosse's Theory revived by Mr. Coleman . 146
Necessity for the Interruption to the Circular
Figure of the Hoof between the Quar-
ters explained . . , I5q
External Conformation of the Foot, Proportion
of its Parts, &c. . . .152
Important Observations concerning the Functions
of the Frog , , . . I55
Progress of Contraction detailed . .137
Descent of the Frog in Contraction explained . 161
Small Degree of Pain manifested by the Animal
during the Progress of Contraction no-
ticed . . - . .163
CONTENTS.
xxiii
PAGE.
"Structure of the Frog, as connected with its re-
ported Office of expanding the Quarters
from Pressure - * . 167
Situation of the Sensitive Frog compressed by
opposing Powers noticed, and the In-
fluence Pressure has. on Disease . 169
Probable Origin of this Theory, from mistaking a
contracted for a healthy Foot . . 171
Effects of the thin-heeled Shoe noticed and ex-
plained . . . . 174
Considerations tending to develope the real Office
of the Frog . . . .178
Conclusion drawn from these < . , 185
Real Cause of Contraction demonstrated . . 18Q
Practices resorted to, to remedy the Evils of Con-
traction . . , . 191
Different Principles of Shoeing, as preventive of
Contraction, noticed . .196
Important Caution in applying the Shoe 197
CHAP. VIII.
On Founder . . . . i 201
External Marks by which its Existence may be
known . ... . 202
^XlV CONTENTS.
PAGE.
JDescription and Causes * . ^ ^03
Turning out to Grass . . ^ 209
Nodding Motion of the Head attending this Dis-
ease . . . 214
Convex Sole of the Cart-Horse noticed . . 215
Observations on the wide and narrow Shoe as
applied to the Convex Foot . . 217
PRACTICAL TREATISE,
CHAP. I.
OF SANDCRACK ; OR, FISSURES OF THE
HOOF*
In commencing our labour^ with the
above subject, we derive some degree of
confidence from the reflection, that it has
hitherto not obtained that share of atten-
tion from more experienced veterinary
writers which it seems to deserve, and,
2
OF SANDCRACK } OR,
consequently, if any. thing we may ad-
vance, in speaking of it, may not be per-
fectly consistent with opinions founded on
more extensive observation, we shall at
least escape the charge of acting in oppo-
sition to rules which we had been previously
taught, and the justice of which we had
been compelled to acknowledge.
A fissure or crack in the hoof of the
horse is an occurrence, which if unattended
to at its commencement, or improperly
treated, frequently establishes one of those
protracted diseases which, whilst they de-
stroy the advantage arising from the exer-
tions of the animal, tend often, by the
tediousness of their cure, to bring discredit
on the veterinary science.
The situation of these affections is va-
rious. Sometimes they are produced at
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 3
the anterior part of the hoof, at others,
near the heels : their direction is gene-
rally perpendicular, but they are occa-
sionally found extending horizontally. In
the latter case they are generally super-
ficial, and seldom productive of lameness,
and, consequently, often pass off in the
regular growth of the hoof unobserved : in
a few instances, however, they have been
observed to extend completely through its
substance, so as to affect the sensitive parts:
the degree of irritation produced in such
cases- was so slight as to affect the step of
the animal very triflingly; and as these
horses were not of the draught kind, and>
consequently, not accustomed to great ex-
ertion, no further bad consequences arose :
it is probable, however, if they had been
so, and subject to harder labour, the irrita-
tion, and lameness would have been pro-
portionably greater.
B 2! '
4 OF SANDCRACK; OR",
The most common appearance of what li
termed Sandcrack, at its first commence-
ment, is that of a very small fissure, scarcely
siiflficiently large to admit a horse hair, and
most frequently situated between the coronet
and base of the quarter, neither extremity,
however, extending completely to those
parts. Under this appearance, they are al-
ways found very superficial ; it will be evi-
dent, therefore, that such a deviation from the
natural state may exist without producing
lameness, and in fact a very great number
of horses are the subjects of it ; but as the
depth of the fissure is not such as to affect
the sensitive parts, no lameness is produced,
and the unsound portion is gradually
brought down by the process of growth,-
and removed by the knife of the smith.
It is that state of the parts where the
injury is more extensive, and where syr-
FlSSUllES OP THE HOOF.
5
gieai treatment is necessary, which requires
our greatest attention. In such cases, in-
stead of the slight superficial fissure de-
scribed, a chasm is produced, extending
through the substance of the hoof, and
communicating with the sensitive parts
within, there exciting a considerable de-
gree of irritation and lameness, followed
by the formation of matter, and the ap-
pearance of a small fungus shooting up
within the fissure,
As the state of the disease, and perhaps
even its existence, is not known till lame-
ness occurs, an idea has arisen, that its pro-
duction is instantaneous. On examination
of the parts, when lameness is produced,
the fissure- is generally found filled with
extraneous matter, as dirt, sand, &c. ; and
hence the disease has derived a name con-
sistent with the usual short-sighted ideas of
O OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
those who have heretofore had tlie treatment
of it consigned to them ; as it is conjectured
they entertained the idea, that the sand,
&:c. contained in the fissure was its original
cause.
It has been confidently beheved by some,
that a sandcrack cannot be produced, but as
the consequence of sudden violence sustain-
ed by the foot ; on the other hand, it is said,
that it often takes place, not only where
nothing of this kind has occurred, but even
where the horse has been standing by
without being subject to the most trivial
exertion , and hence they deduce the opinion,
that it is solely produced by a preterna-
turally dry state of the hoof which causes
it to contract. That such a state of the
hoof is necessary to the production of
many fissures we are ready to admit, but
the same spirit of inquiry, which was the
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 7
orio'inal cause of the commission of the fol-
lowing pages to the press, induced us also
to inquire a little farther with respect to this
matter; for it is evident, that such a devia-
tion from the natural state as changes a soft
flexible body into a hard and brittle one,
with a contraction of its substance, cannot
happen without some cause.
We have heard a remark made by those,
whose extensive opportunities of observa-
tion entitle them to credit, that horses
which have suffered much by the disease
termed Thrush, have been most liable to
fissures in the hoof : what connexion these
diseases can have with each other, may
appear at first rather inexphcable, nor can
we account for it in any other way than by
supposing, that the pain and inflammation
attending the former disease, contributes to
produce that degree of brittleness of the
8 OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
hoof, which is the particular characteristic
of the latter.
The experiments made, and so ably de-
tailed by Mr. Bracy Clark, prove, that a
regular and progressive change, not only in
the soft parts of the foot, but in the coffin-
bone itself, is going on from the time the
animal first receives the shoe; and it is
quite inconsistent with physiological prin-
ciples, that the cause of such a change
should be continually in action, without
exciting some degree of irritation in the
parts to which it is applied • the inference,
therefore, which we draw from this fact is,
that the present method of shoeing, pre-
venting the natural action of the quarters,
proves a source of constant irritation and
inflammation, which immediately produces
the brittle state of the hoof in question, and
its consequences. We also believe that the
2
riSSURES OF THE HOOF. Q
pernicious custom of the smiths of rasping
away the external cuticle of the hoof, (which
they do to give it a new appearance,) contri-
butes very much to the above effect, by ex^
posing the hoof itself to the drying effects
of the atmosphere.
For a proper description of the nature
of the injury which the foot receives from
the application of the iron, we must beg
leave to refer the reader to the elegant and
elaborate work on that subject, of the au-
thor before alluded to : without, however,
a material change of the shape or make of
the shoe at present in use, we think we can
offer a few observations which, if attend-
ed to, may in some degree counteract the
bad effects of shoeing, or rather render it
less productive of injury to the foot, than
it is generally found to be.
10 OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
In the shoeing of draught-horses perhaps,
so much attention is not necessary as in
those wliose feet are of a more dehcate
structure ; because, in the first place, their
feet are not so liable to be affected by im-
proper shoeing ; and secondly, from the
greater exertion they are obliged to perform,
they do not admit of the application of
the following observations to so great an
extent.
The grand principle to be attended to in
the choice of a shoe, is to combine a firm
and solid protection to the foot with as
small a quantity of iron as is consistent
with that protection, and at the same time
to leave the quarters as little under the
influence of the shoe and nails as possible,
so as to allow of that free expansion which
nature intended.
♦
FISSURES
OF THE HOOF.
11
It is not here intended to enter into the
merits or demerits of the different inge-
nious inventions which this age has pro-
duced, nor to consider the various methods
of shoeing, which different circumstances
may require. By an attention to the
above principles, I am persuaded we shall
attain all the advantages possible, consistent
with the performance of those offices we
are taught to expect from the horse. As a
general rule, however, it may be observed,
that the shoe should be light, and equally
thick at the heel as at the toe ; the nails as
small as possible, consistent with the pro-
per security of the shoe; the shoe to have
a flat even bearing on the ground on its
outer edge, bevelled on its inner surface,
so as not to press on the sole ; the nails to
be driven no nearer the quarters than is
absolutely necessary to confine it, and as it
is found to wear principally at the toe, that
12 OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
part, during progression, being the first com-,
ing in contact witli the ground, and the last
leaving it, it would be advisable, in all
cases, to have it composed of steel.
The importance of the shoe being light
is sufficiently obvious, particularly with
respect to young blood horses ; as, if made
thick and heavy, they are not merely an
immediate inconvenience in themselves to
the horse, but they require proportionably
larger nails to retain them ; the disadvan-
tages of which are so great, that we cannot
pass this part of our subject over, without
particularly noticing them.
It must be obvious to all, that a large
hail driven into the hoof must occasion a
proportionate separation of its fibres, and
the internal parts being more succulent and
flexible than the external, yield almost
jPISSURES OF THE HOOF. 13
entirely to the force of the nail ; and to
such an extent does this occur sometimes,
as to press on the sensitive parts, and pro-
duce very severe lameness ; which lameness
is designated by the smiths, as the effect of
being hound by the nails. We do not, how-
ever, mean to assert, that small nails never
can be the cause of lameness in this way ;
but that they are much less liable to do so,
if driven in properly, must be obvious, in-
asmuch as they do not occasion such a
"Vvide separation of the fibres of the hoof-
If the shoe be made in such a manner
as to have its outer edge constantly and
equally in contact with the ground, the
horse will be enabled to attain a much
firmer hold, and will be much less liable to
slip, than if made so as to have its whole
surface in contact with the ground at the
same time : to horses accustomed to tra-
14 OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
verse the streets, this observation is particu-
larly applicable, from the slippery uneven
footing which the stones afford; in some
instances, however, the sole of the foot is
so low as not to admit of this ; but we are
induced to think, that by proper attention
in not cutting away more of the wall than
is absolutely necessary, this objection may
be in some cases removed. That the inner
surface of the shoe should be bevelled, is at
least equally important, inasmuch as it pre-
vents the bad effects arising from pressure
on the sole.
In attending to the rule before laid down,
of driving the nails as far from the quar-
ters as possible, we derive the greatest
advantage which a difference in the mode
of shoeing is capable of producing, because
we avoid the grand cause of the most
destructive of the diseases to which the
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 15
foot of the horse is subject ; we avoid the
ruinous consequences of restraining the
natural action of the quarters : this, indeed,
has been the stumbling-block of succeed-
ing veterinarians, almost up to the present
time ; a want of knowledge of it has been
uniformly destructive of the natural healthy
state of the hoof, and veterinarians not
being able to account rationally for such de-
viations from health, have, as is but too often
the case in such instances, resorted to the de-
lusive theories which the fertility of theirima-
ginations abundantly suggested ; the result
of which has been the adoption of plans,
and the invention of instruments, which
have increased the torture of the animal in
their application, and multiplied the causes
of future disease.
The seat of Sandcrack in the hoofs ot
saddle-horses is much more frequently
OF sandcrack; ok,
about the middle of the inner quarters than
in any other part ; and hence we deduce
another proof, if proofs were wanting, tliat
the application of the iron causes a con-
traction of the heels : for on the anterior,
and all those parts of the hoof which are
internally supported by the solid structure
of the coffin-bone, the contraction bears
no proportion to that of the quarters near
the heels ; and those parts, from a want of
the support which the coffin-bone gives to
the hoof, sink unresistingly under the influ-
ence of the shoe. At that part, then, where
the hoof first loses the support of the
coffin-bone, we should naturally look for
the first effects of the contraction, and here,
accordingly, we find it; according to the
same rule, we should expect to see the
weaker part affected first, and hence the
fissures are more frequent on the inner,
than on the outer quarter, that part being
PISSUIIES OF THE HOOF. 17
considerably the weaker of the two, from
the diminished thickness of the wall. It
also receives a much greater proportion of
the weight of the body than the outer.
It has been commonly remarked, that
Sandcracks appear generally in the fore
feet of saddle-horses, and in the quarters;
whereas, in the draught-horse, they occur
most frequently in the hind feet, and in the
most anterior part of the hoof: we also
have observed, that they occur much more
frequently in the hoofs of those draught-
horses used on the stones of London, than
those of the country ; the reason of which
appears to be the increased hardness of
their labour, and the occasional slipping of
their feet on the stones; which, when it
happens, as is frequently the case, under
the most excessive muscular exertion, we
c
OF sandcrack; or,
may easily imagine to be attended with
severe concussion.
What induces us to believe that concus-
sion is the most common immediate cause
of the perpendicular fissures in the hoofs
of draught-horses is, that we have more
frequently observed them in horses which
have been affected with some cutaneous
affection of the hind extremities ; which by
the excessive itching sensation it excited,
frequently inducing the animal to stamp
his foot on the ground with great violence,
thus produced the fissure ; which, it may
be observed, in such cases generally ex-
tends from the toe where it begins, upwards
towards the coronet.
With respect to the treatment of Sand-
cracks, much difference of opinion has
riSSURES OF THE HOOF. 19
existed ; for the reason before alluded to,*
we shall be more particular in stating the
principle of our practice, under its different
states than the subject would otherwise
seem to require.
As a different practice from that which
we have been accustomed to follow, appears
to have been adopted and recommended
by many veterinary surgeons, and one
more particularly, whose works seem to
stand very high in public estimation, we
should not do justice to ourselves by pass-
ing it over without notice.
The plan above alluded to chiefly con-
sists of the application of the actual cau-
tery to the fissure, after it has been a' little
* Page 1st,
c 2
20 OF sandcrack; oii,
widened by the knife, in order to admit the
iron ; and we are informed, that the immedi-
ate result of this is, a copious exudation of
matter resembling glue: if it is expected
that this glue-like matter is to be the means
of union between the sides of the fissure,
upon the same principle as the substance
of that name is used by carpenters, to pro-
cure adhesion between two pieces of wood ;
we have no hesitation in saying, that dis-
appointment will be the immediate result
to those who employ it, and an aggravated
state of the disease to the horse ; for, on
examining the part a few hours after, in-
stead of the soft flexible substance de-
scribed, as produced by the iron, a hard
brittle body, having an exact resemblance
to a piece of burnt horn, which in fact
it is, will be found; the irritation is in-
creased to an excessive degree, and the
horse will be, in most cases, unable to put.
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 2X
his foot to the ground. These are the im-
mediate consequences of this application ;
but in the course of a few days after,
matter will be formed in the bottom of the
fissure, where the iron was applied, and,
on removing the burnt portion of the hoof,
fungous granulations appear springing up
in great abundance, and resisting the most
powerfully astringent remedies which can
be applied.
We believe that the principal argument
in favour of the cauterizing plan above
alluded to, is said to be the protection
which the burnt portion of the hoof gives
to the sensitive parts beneath ; but we will
take the liberty to ask, what it protects
them from ? We shall probably be answer-
ed, the irritating effects of the application
of extraneous bodjes ; but we certainly do
not know any extraneous body which can
OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
be more irritating than a piece of dry
burnt horn, and especially when aided by
the application of a hot iron.
The application of a hot iron, we should
imagine, in all cases would produce a pre-
ternaturally brittle state of the hoof in the
adjoining parts, by causing an evaporation
of its moisture ; and if applied in such a
situation as to affect the sensitive parts, its
effects must be doubled, as it would most
certainly be attended with inflammation;
under this impression, it might naturally
be expected, that we should severely de-
precate the absurd plan which farriers
sometimes employ, of burning the hoof in
a transverse direction, with the view of
checking the extension of the fissure.
The plan which we have hitherto follow-
ed, with the utmost success, is extremely
PISSURES OF THE HOOF. 23
simple. We have ever been convinced of the
impossibihty of a Sandcrack being, cured
in any other way, than by removal in the
regular process of growth. If it is found ex-
tending into the coronet, we follow the
same plan as when situated farther down,
and which we shall now endeavour to
describe. , ^-
In all cases, where the fissure has ex-
tended to the sensitive parts, the hoof
should be rasped to a small extent on each
side, till it is become pretty thin, the edges
of the fissure should be then cut away, and
in most cases, as we have before observed,
a small fungus will be seen shooting up
between ; wherever this appears, we are to
be the more particular in removing the
edges; or the irritation they excite will cause
a reproduction of the fungus, as often as it is
OF sandcrack; or,
destroyed ; the fungus should be removed
by the knife, or the application of caustic,
and if the caution above alluded to be ob-
served, nothing more than pressure will be
necessary to keep it down ; the upper portion
of the fissure is then to be explored, and as far
asthe crack can be ascertained to extend,
the horn i&^o be removed ; even if it should
extend completely up to the glandular
structure, secreting the hoof, this rule is
still applicable: we should be cautious,
however, to injure that part, and the frog-
band covering it, as little as possible, in
our operations.
After this has been done, the excavation
made by the removal of the horn, may be
filled with a pledget of tow, covered with
any simple ointment; and the best method
of applying pressure to the fungus, is by
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 25
means of a compact roll, large enough to
fill the excavation, and calculated to com-
press the whole surface of the fungus at the
saine time, binding it down with a bandage
of narrow tape, passed round the hoof;
indeed in all cases where the portion of
horn removed has been considerable, a
bandage of this kind will be advisable, to
give the necessary support to the hoof, on
the sides of the fissure.
If these rules are attended to strictly,
we have no hesitation in saying, that they
will prove sufficient for the cure of the
worst cases ; more caution is, however,
necessary, in those where the fissure ex-
tended quite up to the coronet, as the new-
formed horn is more liable to crack, if the
horse is suffered to rest his foot on the
ground, unsupported by the bandage ;
^6 OF sandcrack; or,
where due attention, however, is paid, the
excavation will be observed to be gradually
advancing failher from the coronet, as the
growth of the hoof proceeds, till it is quite
removed by the knife, in preparing the foot
for the shoe.
In those cases where the horn has been
removed entirely up to the coronet, the
new-formed will be seen forming a protu-
berance, apparently thicker than the sur-
rounding, and gradually growing down, as
in the former case, till it is removed.
In the foregoing lines we have endea-
voured to describe the usual course of this
disease, under the strict attention to the
mode of treatment before laid down ; we
have now to notice one of the inconveni-
ences which arise from a want of the pro-
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 27
per degree of attention to the application
of its rules.
By a neglect in not keeping up the
pressure constantly on the fungous struc-
ture, which arises in the fissure, some part
of it will be left unsubdued, which appears,
after it has existed a short time, to take on
a diseased action, producing a morbid
secretion of horn, of a yellow colour, and
of a structure not unaptly compared to
those fungous substances often seen grow-
ing from the sides of trees, the external
appearance of which resembles, in some
degree, that of the mushroom ; as the
healthy horn grows down from the coronet,
it grows over this morbid production, and
excites immediate irritation and lameness,
which is only relieved by the removal of
that portion of healthy horn pressing on
OF SANDCRACK ; OR,
the part: the appearance or nature of this
diseased structure, seems perfectly incapa-
ble of alteration from any application
which can be made ; it continues to grow
down from the original point producing it,
widening as it grows, proportionate to the
degree of expansion, the hoof itself under-
goes in its growth.
In one of two cases which have come
under our observation? of this disease, we
gave a fair trial to the use of the caustic
applications, to endeavour to destroy that
part of the lamellae, which appeared to
have been its original source, but without
success i and in both instances it was found
necessary to resort to a complete excision,
not only of the whole of the diseased horn,
but of a small portion of that surrounding
it, which was in an healthy state.
I'lSSURES OF THE HOOP. 29
In all cases of fissure in the hoof, it is
necessary to premise, that a bar shoe should
be applied ; and which should be, what is
termed by the smiths, laid off the parts ; by
which is understood, that that part of the
wall immediately on each side of the
fissure should be so cut away, or removed
by the rasp, as not to come in contact
with the shoe ; in this way the part will be
reheved from pressure, • and will not be
affected by the action of the foot.
An idea seems very much to prevail
among those who have the making and
application of the shoe, that they can
effect the purpose of laying it off any
particular part by an alteration in it;
and for this purpose, they sometimes bend
it, so as to prevent its inner surface from
coming in contact with the foot, under the
diseased part ; though, at the same time,
30 OF sandcrack; or,
they leave a prominence on the outer
surface of the shoe, under the excavation
thus made, which renders the weight im-
posed here, double what it would otherwise
have been; and which, consequently, in-
creases the mischief, it was intended to
prevent; we would, therefore, strongly
recommend an adherence to the simple
plan of cutting or rasping away the bot-
tom of the wall under the injured parts.
With respect to the use of greasy appli-
cations, as preventive of a disposition to
crack in the hoofs, we are not inclined to
place any confidence in them ; but we hold
a different opinion with respect to the
frequent use of cold water, or of cool
moisture, in any shape; and hence, we
advise the frequent use of it, where the
hoofs shew any disposition to crack.
FISSURES OF THE HOOF. 31
Wherever a Sandcrack has existed, it
will be highly proper to turn the horse
out to grass, if the season of the year ad-
mits of it, till the new horn has gained the
degree of strength: necessary to the per-
formance of its offices.
3^
or CORNS.
CHAP. II.
OF CORN?.
The disease which has obtained this
name, is one of the most common to which
the foot of the horse is hable. It is gene-
rally the result of violence, and attended
in most instances, with that degree of
tenderness, not amounting to actual lame-
ness, Vhich distinguishes the affection of >
the same name in the human foot ; in some
instances, however, where the injury has
been more extensive than common, a pro-
portionate degree of lameness exists.
5
OF CORNS.
33
The effect of contusion of any part of
the foot, if sufficiently great to extend be-
yond the horny substance of the hoof to
the sensitive vascular parts within, is to
produce a laceration of the vessels of these
parts; from which, the blood becomes
effused between the horn and sensitive
parts; such, therefore, is precisely what
. happens in this affection. The extravasa-
tion of blood which is always observed on
thinning the horn, at the injured part, is
not to be considered as solely constituting
the disease, but merely, as the usual attend-
ing consequence of contusion ; its extent,
therefore, enables us to ascertain the de-
gree of injury which has taken place, and
viewing it in this light, it is certainly a
valuable criterion.
„. The most common manner in which this
affection first makes it appearance, is by a
34
OF CORNS.
tenderness or lameness of one or other of
the fore feet, which leads to an exan)ina-
tion of the part. When, therefore, the
shoe has been removed, and the sole and
other parts to which it has been attached,
or contiguous to, is carefully thinned by
the knife, an examination of that part
lying within the angle formed by the in-
flection of the hoof inwards, to form the
bars, (or in other words, the base of the
inner quarter,) will discover it to have a
reddish blackened appearance, which be-
comes more distinct, as the horn is gradu-
ally removed : this appearance, then, marks
the extent of the extravasation, as it is in
fact the extravasated coagulated blood
appearing through the substance of the
horn; it will be found, therefore, of a
greater or less extent, in proportion to
the degree of injury which has been sus-
tained.
OF CORNS. . 55
From the foregoing statement of this
affection, and the cause of its production,
it must be at once apparent, that horses
whose hoofs are of a more dehcate struc- jt
ture than others, must be naore frequently
the subjects of it; because the hoof does
not afford that protection to the sensitive
parts against violence, which exists in
stronger horses. The same observation
will also shew the imprudence of thinning
the horn of the sole of those horses in a
more than necessary degree, whose feet are
not abundantly supplied with that sub-
stance ; such a proceeding would of course
render the protection of the foot consider-
ably weaker, and consequently much more
exposed to the effects of violence.
With respect to the circumstances which
favour the production of Corns, they are
as follow : — Nature herself, in the forma-
D 2
36
OF CORNS.
tion of the foot of the horse, seems to
have designed that the part which is their
seat, should not possess an equal share of
strength and solidity with the external
quarter, and anterior part of the sole : no
doubt some wise purpose must have been
answered by such a contrivance, supposing
the animal to be in a state of nature ; but
what that purpose may be, is probably
reserved for the discovery of others, who
have more extensive opportunities of ob-
serving it in such a state. It is, however,
a fact now very generally understood, that
the horn forming the inner quarter, and
contiguous part of the sole, is considerably
thinner and weaker than that of any other
part of the foot: this, therefore, may be
considered as a predisposing cause ; but
there are others, without which, probably,
it would very rarely occur.
OF CORNS. 37
In the process of what is called parmg
I
out the foot, previous to nailing on the
shoe, it is a custom with smiths to cut away
very considerable quantities of the horn of
the bottom of the foot, and in common
with the other parts, some from the base
of the inner quarter ; it is, therefore, easy
to conceive, that by carrying this process
to a little farther extent than common, the
sensitive parts will be robbed of their due
degree of strength of protection, and con-
sequent tenderness would be the result,
even supposing the whole of the foot to be
of an equal strength ; but when we con-
sider the comparative weakness of the inner
quarter, and that it must have suffered in
an equal degree with the other parts, from
the indiscriminate use of the buttress and
drawing knifcj we shall not be at a loss to
explain why the affection so constantly ap-
pears in this situation.
38 OF CORNS.
Supposing then the foot to have been
prepared in this way, and the shoe applied
in the usual manner, very accurately
adapted to, and in contact with, the usual
parts of the foot, it may be thought that
they would hence derive sufficient protec-
tion from injury ; such, however, is not
the fact, for it has been found that the
pressure of the shoe only was sufficient to
produce it to a very considerable extent,
where the horn had been previously thinned
in a more than ordinary degree.
With respect to the manner in which the
most common and immediate cause of the
contusion and extravasation constituting
this disease acts, we conceive it to be as
follows : — The horse, with his foot pre-
pared and shod in the before-described
manner, (the inner quarter deprived of a
portion of its necessary protection,) is put
to Uis usual labour, and sooner or later,
depending on the hardness and irregularity
of the ground, or the greater or less ex-
ertion to which he is subject, slips, and in
endeavouring to save himself from falling,
causes the contusion described ; in most
cases, however, a much smaller degree of
violence is capable of producing it, and in
many, the simple exertion of trotting has
been found sufficient; the degree of vio-
lence, however, producing it, will always
depend on the quantity and strength of the
horn which has been left as a protection to
the inner quarter.
If the degree of injury inflicted is trifling,
and the extravasation consequently small,
nothing more will be necessary in its treat-
ment, than to remove the shoe, and let the
horse rest for a few days ; if, however, cir-
cumstances may render it necessary to
OF CORNS.
work him, the shoe may be what is termed
laid off the part ; this, however, is not to
be done by removing the horn of the part,
but by altering the shoe so as to protect it
from pressure. We wish to be more par-
ticular in enjoining an attention to this
observation, as we have frequently seen
the plan of cutting away the horn followed
with avidity, on account of the temporary
relief it affords ; such a plan, however, is
deceitful, and dictated by too shallow an
idea of the complaint ; for, though it gives
time for the removal of it when existing,
still it leaves what may be termed an in-
creased disposition to it, because it deprives
the sensitive parts of the protection of
which they already stood too much in need;
and we have no hesitation in saying, that
it is from this method of treatment solely
that some horses are so frequently, and
indeed almost constantly affected. The
OF CORNS. 41
best plan which can be followed, therefore,
is to apply a bar shoe, instead of the com-
mon one, as this affords more ample means
of throwing the pressure off the affected
parts : no excision of the horn, we repeat,
ought to be resorted to, unless there is
reason to believe that suppuration has taken
place.
In the application of the bar shoe it is
necessary to state, that any pressure on the
frog ought to be guarded against, for such
pressure will be extended very frequently
to the diseased parts on its side, there ex-
citing irritation, retarding the cure, and in
some instances even producing suppura-
tion.
The foregoing observations, it will be
seen, are applicable to the affection, only
in its simple state, as it first attracts atten-
42
OF CORNS.
tion ; but from a neglect of the proper
treatment in this stage, and suffering the
animal to continue his work under it, with-
out the removal of the shoe, suppuration
is at length produced; and the matter
being incapable of making its escape
through the sole, rises up, causing an ab-
sorption of the processes or lamellae, in its
course to the coronet, there forming an
opening, by which it is discharged.
The widely different state of this case
from the former will, of course, render dif-
ferent treatment necessary : the first indi-
cation, therefore, is to form a depending
opening in the sole, from which the matter
may be discharged, which is to be done by
cutting the sole completely through to the
sensitive parts. A probe may then be
passed into the opening, in order to ascer-
tain to what extent the burrowing of the
OJF CORNS.
43
matter has separated the horn : wherever
it is found to be separated, it should
be entirely removed, however extensive
the separation may be : this rule of prac-
tice, indeed, is not confined to the sole, for
after such has been done in this part, the
course of the matter is to be followed up
to the coronet with the knife, and the
separated horn treated in the same way;
for experience warrants the observation,
that in no case where disease has once
separated the horn from the sensitive parts,
can it ever again unite.
After the separated horn has been thus
removed, we have only to w^ait for its re-
production from the coronet, in order to
re-establish the strength of the hoof; the
sensitive parts exposed by the operation,
are of course to be protected by appro-
priate applications from irritating sub-
44
OF CORNS.
stances; these, however, need only to be
attended to for a few days, as at the ex-
piration of that time a thin shell of horn
will be produced by the exposed parts
themselves, which will be their best pro-
tection, till the sohd horn comes down from
the coronet, and replaces the foot in its
original state, previous to the occurrence of
disease.
A bar shoe in this, as in almost all other
states of diseases of the feet, requiring the
application of dressings, or protection from
pressure, will be found the most advan-
tageous.
It may not be improper to notice here,
a very common inconvenience arising where
the shoe has been retained a longer time
than is usual on the foot. It will be re-
collected, that the base of the hoof gradu-
OF CORNS.
45
ally expands as it grows ; in consequence
of which, the shoe, after it has been on
some time ceases to be equal in circum-
ference to the foot, and a very considerable
portion of the base of the quarter appears
to be uncovered by and growing down pos-
terior to it ; the inner corner of the heel of
the shoe, in this state, makes a very consi-
derable degree of pressure on the posterior
part of the sole, and is thus often produc-
tive of tenderness, and in some cases of
actual lameness, attended by a shght degree
of extravasation. It is generally found to
disappear on the removal of the old shoes,
and the usual preparation of the foot for
the reception of new.
I
46
OF THRUSH.
CHAP. III.
OF THRUSH.
The derivation of the name of this dis-
ease appears to have been of a very absurd,
though curious nature.
By the observations of an eminent
author, to whom we have already had
occasion to allude, we learn that it is a
corruption of the French term originally
applied to the part diseased; the Frog
itself being designated by them Fourche,
from its forked appearance. The discharge
OF THRUSH. 47
taking place from that part, first gave rise
to the use of the term Running Fourche ;
under which name the disease, it appears,
continued to be known in England, till
about the reign of Elizabeth : the writers
on this subject at that time, having made a
successful attempt to change it into a term
more neaj'lj resembling the English lan-
guage, though much more destitute of sense;
and hence after that period, it was called
the Running Frush : about the latter part
of the reign of James, however, when horse-
racing was much practised, it underwent a
further change, which was not merely ab-
surd, but absolutely ludicrous ; for it was
then that it first obtained the name by
which it is at present known.
f
In order to afford a clear idea of the
seat and nature of this disease, some de-
scription of the parts concerned, becomes
48 OF THRUSH.
necessary. We know not, however, any
terms which can possibly convey so clear
an idea, as an actual observance of the
formation of the hoof itself, after the
other parts of the foot has been separated
from it bv maceration.*
The base of the Frog is that part which
is observed externally, lying between, and
connecting together the two extremities of
the hoof, at that part where it becomes
inflected, to pass towards the centre of the
foot to form the bars. In the middle of
the base is situated a deep cleft or fissure,
appearing to extend deeply into the foot ;
on each side of which, a thin plate of horn
* This is done by placing the foot in water for about
the space of a month, or more readily, by boiling it ;
when the foot may easily be drawn out from the hoof.
OF THRUSH. 49
takes its oi'igin, extending in the same
direction with the fissure itself ; which
plates or processes seem to converge and
join each other, by an immediate union of
substance within the foot, and forming, in
fact, the boundaries of the fissure before
described, known by the name of the Cleft
of the Frog.
The union of the two plates before de-
scribed, when examined internally, after
the foot has been drawn from the hoof,
presents to the eye, a projecting portion
of horn, which is received in a cavity
formed for the purpose, in the middle of
the sensitive Frog. This projection has
been very aptly compared to a cone, of
which the cleft of the Frog forms the
hollow base, and the sides of which become,
in some degree, separated from each other
by the natural expansion of the foot.
E
50
UF THRUSH.
The advantages arising from this struc-
ture of the Frog are two-fold ; in the first
place, serving by its insertion into the sen-
sitive parts, to fix the hoof more firmly to
the foot ; and secondly, by its being hollow,
allowing,, and partaking of, the alternate
expansion and contraction of the heels or
quarters ; which it could not have done,
had it been of a perfectly solid struc-
ture.
From the outer and posterior part of
the cleft of the Frog, two wings or pro-
cesses go off, passing upwards, and enclos-
ing the extremities of the hoof, where it
begins to be inflected, as before described,
to the coronet ; and there terminates in a
small band, termed the Coronary Frog-
band, of the same structure with the frog
itself, and which is continued completely
round the coronet.
OF THRUSH. 51
The parts here described, under the
name of the Cleft of the Fi'og, and the
processes or plates of horn forming the
sides of the projection received into the
cavity in the middle of the sensitive frog,
are those more particularly connected witk
the disease, of which we are now to speak.
Any injury sustained by the latter of these,
is capable of producing it, whether occa-
sioned by the application of wet irritating
substances, (which has been supposed by
some to be its most common cause,) or by
rhechanical violence.
The differences of opinion which have
existed with respect to the causes of Thrush,
we are inclined to think, have arisen solely
in consequence of the want of accurate
observation of the disease, when formed :
it is surely not sufficient to know that a
discharge of a fetid highly disagreeable
E 2
52 OF THRUSH.
nature takes place from the part, in order
to establish a principle, by which we are
to be guided in its treatment; yet such
knowledge undoubtedly has been thought
sufficient, even to justify men in communi-
cating their ideas to the pubhc : and hence
we are obliged to hear of drying applica-
tions, astringent powders, &c. which, we are
gravely told, are to have the effect of drying
up the discharge.
The real nature of this disease has not,
as yet, been sufficiently understood, or
made public. It originates in a morbid
state of the horny substance which form
the sides of the cleft of the frog; which
state is in the majority of cases, produced
by the, lodgment of extraneous bodies ; a
circumstance w hich the formation of this
part particularly exposes it to, as it is easy to
conceive, that small particles of gravel, Sec.
OF THRUSH. 53
may be taken up, when the foot is bearing on
the ground, and in its expanded state, and
be retained there when it is removed, and
consequently contracted ; thus situated,
the foot will be again brought to the
ground, and the extraneous body driven by
the pressure further into the cleft ; and it
is by the repetition of this occurrence, that
substances of this kind are at length carried
completely up to the superior part of the
cleft, when their ruinous effects begin to
appear. The depth and narrowness of the
cleft render it difficult to remove them;
and, therefore, with the ordinary attention
to this part, they remain — moisture is ad-
mitted, and assists their action by softening
the horn, and rendering it more easily
destroyed by the ragged edges and irregular
surfaces which substances of this kind
possess ; in this way their action is con-
tinual and unobserved, till they have cut
3
54 OF THRUSH.
through the substance of the horn, and get
in contact with the sensitive parts, which
generally happens at the upper part of the
fissure, at the point where the union of the
two plates of horn before described takes
place. Then it is that the discharge begins
to appear ; and if the disease is not at this
period attended to, and the cause removed,
the destruction of horn continues, the dis-
charge increases, and excessive tenderness
or lameness is produced; and in those
cases where the disease is still suffered to
go on, the extraneous bodies insinuate
themselves between the inner part of the
sides of the cleft and the sensitive parts,
cause a separation of these parts, and sink
down into the inner side of the sole, there
extending their irritation, and producing
the disease termed Canker.
With respect to contraction of the quar-
OF THRUSH. 55
ters being the common cause of this dis-
ease, we disbeUeve it entirely ; and we
never have seen a single instance where it
had a greater effect in inducing it, than by
the altered state of the mechanism of the
part, and consequent narrowness of the
cleft, causing a firmer retention of the ex-
traneous bodies which we have before
mentioned, as its most common and imme-
diate cause. In this point of view, how-
ever, we are are inchned to allow it
something of the character it has obtained,
as we think we have observed it rather
more frequently in highly contracted feet,
than in feet which have not suffered much
from contraction ; but this does not go to
disprove what we have before asserted, for
horses whose feet are in tlie very last stage
of contraction, are daily to be seen totally
free from this disease.
OF THRUSH.
We should wish, however, to place this
matter in a light different from that of
mere assertion ; as assertions without proof,
especially when they go to explode an
established theory, are and ought to be
very cautiously received. We think that
every man should receive a new opinion,
or an opinion which tends to disprove
a theory which he has before received as
a proposition merely, to which his own
mind is to be directed; for in this way
only, can conflicting theories be decided
on, old ideas exploded, and new ones
received in their stead. At a bar of this
kind, we willingly place the few following
observations we are about to offer.
We trust that it is an established fact
that contraction may exist to the extent
before mentioned, without the occurrence
OF THRUSH. 57
of Thrush ; but as it may be advanced that
such a circumstance is uncommon, and may
be referred to some pecuUarity in the foot
of the horse, we think it necessary to ob-
serve, that it is sometimes seen in one
only of the contracted feet to an extent
producing extreme lameness, while the
other remained perfectly healthy. Now,
considering that the disease in the one foot
would necessarily induce the animal to rest
more on the opposite one, any influence
which such a circumstance could have,
would be admitted into full action ; again,
if contraction really was the cause, why
should we see it more frequently in the hind
than in the fore feet, where the contraction
is scarcely perceptible; and why also in
feet which have nevfer undergone contrac-
tion, or even received the shoe.
In the formation and evolution of the
58 OF THRUSH.
foot of the colt, that part, it appears, which
we have described as the seat of the disease,
is the last which becomes perfectly formed ;
and if the colt, during the period between
one and three years of age, be exposed to
continual, or frequent moisture, as often
happens in the winter season, the apphca-
tion of such moisture will bring on a
debilitated action of the part producing
the horn ; in consequence of which a dis-
charge of precisely the same nature as in
the disease we are speaking of occurs, which
will be found to continue generally till the
animal has passed its third year: when the
powers of production become proportion-
ately stronger, the part becomes perfectly
formed, and the discharge ceases. It is
true that the cause of this affection is not
precisely of the same nature as that we
have stated to be the most common cause
of Thrush in horses which have been shod,
OF THRUSH. " 59
because there is in fact no destruction of
solid horn ; but the wet and moisture, being
applied to the imperfect part, prevents its
attaining that degree of solidity which
nature intended ; and the part intended to
secrete the horn being irritated and thrown
into diseased action by the application of,
such a cause, produces, instead of its
natural secretion, a substance of a curdy
appearance, with a discharge of a sanious
matter, the same as we have before stated,
as that occurring in the common Thrush
of shod horses. The curdy substance
alluded to, however, bears no proportion
to the quantity of the fluid discharge, nor
does it flow with that fluid from the cleft of
the frog; but if the foot of a colt, of the
age we have mentioned, which is the subject
of Thrush is examined, there will be found
considerable portions of it adhering to the
surface from whence the discharge flows :
60 OF THRUSH.
we consider it to be merely the imperfect
horn, the production of the soft parts under
debilitated action, and which continues to
be produced as long as that action re-
mains.
Viewing this affection in its true light, we
cannot but be convinced that it is the same
disease as that occurring in shod horses ;
We give it, therefore, the importance of a
proof that such disease can occur in horses
which never have suffered from contraction
in the slightest degree.
Contraction, however, when existing
with Thrush, renders it much more diffi-
cult of cure, for as the cleft of the frog
of course partakes of it, the proper ap-
plication of the remedies are rendered
more difficult. We have already said, that
the horn in the cleft becomes destroyed ; it
OF THRUSH. 61
happens, therefore, that when the cleft is
narrowed, the diseased surfaces come in
contact with each other; and in such a
case no healthy horn can ever be pro-
duced ; it becomes, therefore, a matter of
considerable difficulty to introduce any
application to the diseased part ; it is
an object indeed not to be accomplished
without considerable force, and that force,
if frequently employed, generally produces
great irritation.
The facts here laid down will afford at
once a sufficient indication of the plan to
be followed to prevent the occurrence of
Thrush. It is simple, and admits of being
followed up with ease, by every one en-
trusted with the care of horses. It is a
duty which they ought to consider of the
most imperious kind, they ought to reflect
that we have been the cause of bringing
62
OF THRUSH.
the animal from a state of nature, and ren-
dering its exertions subordinate to our
necessities and our pleasures, and that we
have thereby exposed him to the risk of
danger and disease. If this reflection
should ever cross their minds, it must be a
want of humanity, indeed, which will pre-
vent that attention to the feet which they
so obviously require.
If the proper degree of attention after
the horse has been exercised, or returned
from a journey, be paid to the feet, we
believe this affection would never occur;
this attention, however, does not merely
consist of the application of a brush and
water to the sole, as the seat of this disease
can be little benefited by it ; it is necessary
that the part which is the seat of it should
be more particularly attended to, and
cleared from any foreign substances con-
OP THRUSH. 63
tained therein ; which, we conceive, would
be best done by a small brusf) made For the
purpose, which may be easily introduced
into the cleft.
The treatment of this disease, like all
other of the feet which admit of relief, is
simple. Nature herself, in the generality
of cases, would be adequate to its cure, if
not opposed by its original cause, or, as
very frequently happens, by the ingenuity
of a certain class of men who assume to
themselves the liberty of treating the dis-
eases of horses, with talents scarcely equal
to the performance of the business from
which they derive their name.
It becomes now our painful task ta speak
of the means in common use among far-
riers for the cure of this disease. It would^
we are aware, be unreasonable to expect
64 OF THRUSH.
that any medicine which they prescribe,
should be administered on a principle;
and it really appears that we should be
equally deceived, were we to expect them
to be guided by any feelings of humanity;
if they were guided by the former, or pos-
sessed any of the latter, we surely should
not hear of the application of the most
destructive and painful caustics which the
Pharmacopoeia affords to a disease like that
of which we are now speaking. They can-
not either be guided by experience, for
they certainly must see that such applica-
tions are never, under any circumstances,
useful, but constantly productive of mis-
chief, in many cases being followed by
such a debilitated action of the parts, as
renders the disease ever after incurable.
The foot of the horse is capable of re-
producing horn for the protection of any
OF THRUSH.
65
part whence it shall have been removed by
accident or disease. The consideration of
this simple fact will be sufficient to regulate
our treatment of Thrush, and to furnish us
with a principle on which such treatment
may be founded. It may be needless to re-
mark, that all extraneous bodies should be
removed from the part ; but it should be
particularly enjoined that if on examina-
tion, any portion ,of the horn should be
found separated from the sensitive parts,
such should be removed by the knife.
Every person entrusted with the care of
horses, knows that moisture is unfavourable
to this affection, if admitted to the dis-
eased part ; it may be, therefore, useless to
observe, that a seclusion from it is necessary.
Pressure, by the support it gives to the
vessels secreting the horn, greatly favours
/
OF THRUSH.
the production of that horn ; and pressure,
apphed to the seat of this disease, gives the
assistance to nature which she requires;
that assistance, which we have no hesita-
tion in Scrying, will be always adequate to
its cure.
.„; The method of applying this which we
ha,ve been accus,tonied tp. employ, consists
siniply of the introduction of a pledget of
tow into the cleft -of a proportionate size,
so that every part of it which is diseased,
may have a firm and steady compression.
In common ; 9cLses, nothing farther is ne-
cessary ; the cleft will retain the pledget
without any assistance from other con-
;trivances, and the horse may be generally
suffered to \York a little without any detri-
ment to the cure ; if, however, the case has
been of long standing, and improperly
treated by caustics, &c. it will not readily
0¥ THRUSH. 67'
yield to these means; in which case, the
pledget, previous to its introduction, should
be moistened with a strong solution of
sulphate of zinc ; which will constringe the
vessels of the part, diminish the secretion
of fluid, and in a short time establish a
healthy action.
In those bad cases of Thrush, where the
whole of the horn lining the cleft of the
frog has been destroyed, and the disease
extends down to its base, on each side
the pressure which is applied to the cleft
itself, must also be applied to the dis-
eased part of the frog by its side ; and
this is only to be done by the use of a bar
shoe, which will afford means of confining
the applications to the part, and allow of
pressure being applied to any extent which
may be necessary.
68
OF THRUSH.
With respect to the renewal of the ap-
plication, it should never be neglected
longer than twelve hours ; and if circum-
stances admit of its being removed three
times in the day, it will have its advan-
tages, as the pledget will generally, if the
discharge is great, by remaining much
longer, become softened by it, and thereby
cease to afford the necessary degree of
compression to the parts.
or CANffRR.
69
CHAP. IV.
OF CANKEE.
By the term Canker, is understood an
extensive ulceration of the sensitive parts,
generally of the sole of the foot, from
whence the horn has been separated by
disease.
In that part of our work relating to
the disease termed Thrush,* we have
given an account of the most common
manner of its production ; and by refer-
ring the reader to which, we shall avoid an
* Page 54.
/
70
OP CANKER.
unnecessary repetition. From what, how-
ever, we are about to state, it will appear
that it may be induced by many, and dif-
ferent circumstances.
The origin and cause of this affection is
not hke some others, attributable to any
particular state of the foot, or peculiar to
any species of horse ; it may happen indis-
criminately to all ; either as the consequence
of some other disease, or of some injury
which has been sustained by the part.
In order to produce what is termed
Canker, there must be a separation of the
horn from the sensitive parts, with which it
ifr in contact in the natural state ; and such
a separation may be produced in two ways ;
either' as happens in Thrush, where that
affection extends to the sole in the way
we have before described, by extraneous
OF CANKER. 71
bodies ifisinuating themselves between those
parts ; or by the formation and confine-
ment of matter produced by some injury
which has been inflicted, as the prick of a
nail, cohtusion, &c. ; the latter of which is
the case in the affection termed Corns,
where it proceeds to suppuration, as
described in the part appropriated to
that subject. This disease, therefore, when
formed, does not by any means merit a
distinction by name from Thrush, as it is
in reality the same affection, whatever may
be its cause, existing in a different situa-
tion ; and we have only adopted the term,
and' allotted it a place of its own, in order
to avoid confusion, and in conformity with
the plan of this work, to render every thing
as nearly in'telligible as possible.
When suppuration and a separation of
the horn and sensitive patts takes place, in
72
OF CANKER.
consequence of the prick of a nail, it is
only from neglect of that accident when it
occurs ; the lameness which is the imme-
diate consequence, either passes unob-
served or unattended to, the inflammation
goes on to produce suppuration, and in
many cases it at this time disappears. The
orifice, however, made by the nail, is either
closed by extraneous bodies, or too small
to allow of the escape of the matter ; which
consequently becomes extended in the sole,
undermining, as it were, the foot, till a
great part, or the whole of the horn forming
the sole, and even that of the lateral parts
of the foot becomes separated from the
sensitive parts, when lameness again recurs,
and leads to an examination. In the ge-
nerality of cases, however, the injury pro-
duced by the confinement of matter is not
so great before it produces a second lame-
ness, and attracts observation; and in
OP CANKER.
73
some, that which was at first produced
never disappears till the proper plan has
been adopted ; in which case, the separa-
tion of the parts may be supposed to be
not so extensive, as its continuance would
necessarily lead to an earlier examination
of the foot.
When, therefore, suppuration has taken
place in this manner, the nature of the
case is soon ascertained ; the small opening
made by the nail is easily observed, and in
cutting the sole through at the part, the
matter becomes discharged. The lameness,
however, is but little altered by this cir-
cumstance, and if nothing further be done,
it still continues, and by its continuance,
generally leads to a repetition of the use
of the drawing-knife ; and >thus, if the
separation is not very extensive, it may
happen that the separated horn will be
74 OF CANKER.
entirely removed, and that it will be fol-
lowed by the production of new. This,
however, is not in general the case, for in
the majority, a want of knowledge of the
great necessity of removing the separated
horn occasions a neglect of the proper use
of the drawing-knife, and a substitution of
caustic, or astringent applications: the
edges of the separated horn being thus left
surrounding the ulcerated surface, act as a
constant cause of irritation ; which irrita-
tion produces' soft fungous- granulations on
the surface of the sore, rising generally far
above the level of the surrounding healthy
horn. ' '
In this state of the disease, the appear-
ance is truly disgusting, and has given rise to
tM idea in the minds of some who are very
well informed on this subject, that it hence
originally dierived if ^ name ; and farriers
OF CANKER.. 75
themselves, from the great obstinacj of its
nature, and the constant re-production of
the fungus as often as it is destroyed, seem
to entertain the idea, that it is of a nature
specifically poisonous.
The discharge which takes place from the
sore is of a milky appearance; it appears
to consist of flakes of imperfectly formed
horn, mixed with a fluid of an highly fetid
nature, in which it seems partially dis!-.
solved; the surface indeed is totally in^.
adequate to the productibn of solid horn,
though it retains a disposition to it, as. is
evident from the nature of the discharge.
In) the common method of treating this,
disease, the applications -of- caustics: and
astringents seem to be the chief objects^!,
and, as has been observed, " some use
Egyptiacum, or apply dry powdered ver-
76 OP CANKER.
digris to the sore, others butter of antimony,
and some touch the surface with lunar
caustic ; others, again, use diluted nitrous
acid, or marine acid, and some are fond of
red lead, boiled down and mixed with
Egj^ptiacura/' Now, the effects of all these
may be reduced simply to the destruction
of the fungus, which many of them do
most effectually ; but to what purpose
should the animal be subjected to the tor-
ture of such applications, while the edge of
the separated horn is constantly re-produc-
ing the fungus which they are meant to
destroy. The impolicy of such a plan
must be at once evident, on account of the
effect which it certainly has of debilitating
the part ; to such an extent, indeed, does
this happen in long protracted cases, as
apparently to destroy all disposition to form
horn.
OF CANKER.
77
We do not mean to assert, that such
applications are never necessary; on the
contrary, we use them ourselves to destroy
the fungus, after the separated horn has
been carefully removed; and any further
use of them than this, deserves to be
deprecated in the severest terms. We have
however, seen their effects under constant
application; we have seen them produce
slough after slough, till the coffin-bone
itself has become exposed : their applica-
tion has even been continued longer than
this, and with the true feelings of the pro-
foundest ignorance, exhilarated with the
idea of having surmounted a great diffi-
culty, have been told by the individual
who was treating the disease, that he had
succeeded, as he expressed himself, in
" rooting if out to the bone."
Whenever the coffin-bone has been in-
I
78 OP CANKER.
jured in this way, it would not be advisable
to proceed any further in attempting the cure;
for experience proves that an exfoliation
of bone, to the extent which would here take
place, a new formation of the soft parts,
and a re-production of healthy horn upon
these must be a work of more time and
expence than the value of the animal itself
in ordinary cases is equal to.'
Those authors who have hitherto noticed
this atFection, seem to have had some idea
that pressure was useful in the applications
to the part ; and having ourselves observed
the same circumstance, we were led to
consider its mode of action more particu-
larly. It appeared to us, that the vessels
of the part, debihtated and relaxrd as they
generally are, might have derived benefit
from the support which pressure gave to
their sides ; with this idea, we determined
or CANKER. 79
to give it a fair trial, and we have not been
disappointed in our expectations.
In pursuance of the plan of this work,
we proceed to describe the mode of treat-
ment which we have followed in this disease,
and which we may venture to say, has
been attended with uniform success.
When C-anker has arisen as a conse-
quence of Thrush, the horn which is first
separated from the sensitive parts, will be
that of course at and near the base of the
frog ; the separated parts form a receptacle
not only for the matter which is secreted
by the part itself, but for that which is
discharged from the sides of the cleft of
the frog; which continually flowing down
from that part, and being confined under
the horn, increases the irritation, and sepa--
80
OF CANKER.
rates that substance to a greater or less
extent in the sole, proportionate to the
degree of irritation which is excited ; in
some cases, where the disease exists for a
long time under neglect or improper treat-
ment, the whole of the horn of the sole
becomes separated in this way.
In such a case, then, we should commence
with removing the horn of the frog where
it is detached ; and in general this will be
found to peel off without the slightest
^ difficulty to the whole extent of the separa-
tion ; the better way of removing it, how-
ever, is gradually, by means of the knife ;
in doing which, it will be found in many
places attached to the sensitive parts by
small threads, apparently of an horny struc-
ture, which require to be cut through.
And thus, after tracing out and removing
OF CANKER. 81
the separated liorn to its fullest extent, we
proceed to the application of pressure in
the manner hereafter described.
. When suppuration and a separation of
parts has taken place, in consequence of
the prick of a nail, the same rule of a total
removal of the horn as far as it is separated,
equally applies, and care should be taken
to leave no small irregular projections of it
at the edges, as such would excite irritation,
and favour the production of that fungous
structure, which is so common, where the
horn and sensitive parts have been sepa-
rated.
As affording means of the apphcation of
pressure, as we have before observed, a bar
shoe is necessary; and if the sensitive
parts have assumed a fungous appearance,
the application of a small quantity of the
G
82
or CANKER.
sulphate of zinc powdered will be of ser-
"Vice. After the shoe has been applied,
therefore, we proceed to lay pledgets of
tow of an equal thickness, one upon an-
other, on the diseased part, till we have
brought it up to a level with the shoe, or
something above it; a thin plate of iron,
of about an inch and a half in breadth,
is then to be introduced transversely under
the shoe, which can generally be done
with ease ; another of the same kind of a
proportionately greater length is to be in-
troduced in the opposite direction upon it ;
the pressure will be thus nearly equally
applied; but if the disease extends only
over part of the sole, and a greater degree of
pressure is necessary to that part, the pledgets
of tow may be made proportionately of
greater thickness. If the separation of
horn has extended up the quarters or sides
of the foot, as occasionally happens in this
OF CANKER. 83
disease, the pressure is to be applied in the
manner described under the head of Sand-
crack.
It is necessary to observe, that the appli-
cation should be renewed twice a day, for
the reason alluded to when speaking of
Thrush. If this caution should be attended
to, the parts will, in the course of a few
days, become covered by a thin imperfect
shell of horn, which, however, is not to be
suffered to remain ; it appears to be only
partially attached, and the matter flows
out from under it on the application of
pressure ; the vessels are of course not to
be supposed to have regained their natural
strength in so short a time ; and, therefore,
the suffering this portion of horn to re-
main, would only be to increase the irrita-
tion, and retard the progress of the cure.
The same objection, in the generality of
84
OF CANKER.
cases, will apply to the second, third,
fourth, and even fifth shell of horn which
appears on the diseased part, and which
ought, therefore, to be removed with
the knife, as fast as they appear, and the
pressure re-applied in the before-described
manner.
By a repetition of this process, and a
strict attention to the application of pres-
sure, the diseased surface will gradually
regain its power, the secretion of fluid will
cease, and the sore will be at length covered
with healthy horn. As a rule, however,
when the removal of the thin plates of
horn described is to be discontinued, we
may observe, that so long as the secre-
tion of fluid is profuse surrounding it, or is
pressed out from under, by applying the
finger to it, it should be removed; for
while such a state remains the parts cannot,
OF CANKER.
85
for reasons we shall presently mention, be
restored to their healthy action.
Considering the exposed state of the
sole, when the animal is at work, it would
evidently be imprudent to suffer the foot
to go without some artificial protection, till
the horn has regained nearly its original
strength.
With respect to the difficulty of procur-
ing the formation of healthy horn in this
disease, we conceive it to be sufficiently
explained as follows : — ^The sensitive parts
being thrown into diseased action by the
suppuration which has occurred, secrete
instead of solid horn, a fluid of the nature
before described ; some of the vessels,
however, and perhaps air, in some degree,
retain their original disposition, by which
small portions of horn are produced, but
86 Of CANKER.
which the fluid secreted with it possesses
the power of dissolving.
The secretion of matter so different from
healthy horn, we conceive to be the conse-
quence of the irritation originally producing
the separation of that substance and the
sensitive parts, the effect of which irritation
has been to debilitate the action of the.
vessels ; and, as we have before stated, we
were hence led to the adoption of pressure,
as a means of curing the disease.
That the fluid in question possesses the
power of dissolving the horn, is strongly
evinced by examination of the frogs of
those horses which are the subjects of Thrush,
or the surface of the disease of which we
are now speaking, at the time of removing
the separated horn ; where the small por-
tions of new horn will be seen mixed with
1
OF CANKER. 87
it, and half converted by it into a milky
fluid. The fact indeed has been more
strongly ascertained by the test of experi-
ment ; and hence the reason will appear of
our advising the removal of the thin plates
of new horn, in the treatment of the dis-
ease: the short time which these appear
after the application of pressure will not
admit of the healthy vigorous action being
restored to the part; and hence, we find
that some of the vessels under it continue
their diseased action, and the fluid which
they secrete, acts as a solvent on the new
horn, excites irritation in the neighbouring
vessels, and again produces the disease.
Thus it is, therefore, that the disease is found
to be so tedious in its cure, if the new horn
is suffered to grow, before there has been
sufficient time elapsed to restore the power
of the part.
OO OF CANKER.
It generally happens, that the last point
on which the production of healthy horn
takes place in this disease, where it has
been occasioned by the prick of a nail, is
that at which the injury has been inflicted,
and which is very tedious in its re-produc-
tion of that substance. It should, there-
fore seem that accidents of this kind very
materially influence the action of the parts
in forming horn, even though the deeper
seated parts, as the bone or flexor tendon,
may not have suffered from it.
It may not be improper to notice here,
the other kinds of injury which may be
sustained by the accidental wound of a
nail, either from negligence in driving
it at the time of the application of the
shoe, or, as frequently happens, by the
horse treading on them in the street ; which
latter is distinguished by smiths as the
OF CANKER. 89
prick of a hennel 7iail, and which no doubt
often affords them a ready explanation of
a lameness, really produced in the former
manner.
Of Splinters of the Coffin-hone.
A small portion of the coffin-bone will
be occasionally struck off by a little devia-
tion from the proper course of the nail, in
nailing on the shoe, which is sometimes
found to be the case, at the time of the
production of the latter disease, of which
we have been speaking, and which, in some
instances, very materially retards its cure.
Whoever examines the thin sharp edge
of the coffin-bone, will see the possibiUty
of such an occurrence, and for ourselves,
we think it not an uncommon one ; it is,
90 OF CANKEB.
however, probable, that in the greater num-
ber of cases, it becomes again united ;
otherwise, it would be the cause, on account
of the tedious process of exfoKation, and
consequent irritation which must follow, of
a very protracted disease ; the high degree
of vascularity of the lamellae which are
attached to the bone, renders the conjec-
ture highly probable, and no doubt the
parts are fully equal to the production of
the cartilaginous substance which is the
means of union between fractured portions
of bone, when accident renders it neces-
sary. Wherever nature, therefore, adopts
this method of repairing the injury sustain-
ed, the lameness attendant would probably
be little more than that occasioned simply
by a wound of the soft parts.
The knowledge of this circumstance will
direct us how to act, in cases where the
OP CANKER. 91
course of the puncture made by the nail
affords reason to suspect that a piece of
bone has been thus separated. It would,
of course, be wrong to make use of the
probe, in order to obtain conviction of the
fact, as that would interrupt the process,
which nature had set up to affect re-union ;
we ought rather to be content with any
simple application which would protect
the part from disturbance; for, if the
process of re-union once commences, it
will go on without any assistance which it
is in the power of art to give ; any inter-
ference, therefore, on our part, might be
prejudicial, but could not be of service;
we may venture, therefore, to lay it down
as a rule, that the parts, in such a state,
ought to be left to themselves, with the
exception of removing a small portion of
the horn surrounding the puncture.
92
OF CANKER.
In those cases of exfoliation of bone,
which have come under our observation,
we do not recollect any to have been the
consequence of fracture, in the last describ-
ed manner : in some cases, however, of
Canker, which had been previously under
the care of other persons, very large pieces
of dead bone have come away, in conse-
quence of being exposed to the action of
some of the various kinds of caustics
which are commonly used in the treatment
of this disease ; but the value of the animal,
after the cure was complete, was by no
means equal to the expence incurred.
It has happened to us, in two or three
cases which have been subject to the
application of caustics, that a re-produc-
tion by granulation of the soft parts, and
of new horn by these has taken place,
OF CANKER.
95
when a recurrence of the lameness has been
observed ; and on examination, an opening
surrounded by the usual fungous granula-
tions, marking the existence of diseased
bone, was found communicating with the
diseased portion. The knowledge of the
tediousness of these cases, induced us to
advise the death of all which we have ob-
served, with the exception of one ; on
which we determined to try the plan, we
believe first recommended by our late pre-
ceptor, Mr. B. Clark, of sawing out the
diseased portion, and leaving the wound to
heal by granulation : the experiment at
length succeeded ; but candour obliges us
to confess, that it is in a very great degree
hable to the same objection, as that of
suffering the exfoliation to take place,
namely, the great length of time necessary
to the cure. The necessary destruction of
the soft parts having been very considerable,
OF CANKER.
required some time for the production of
new ; and when these were formed, they
were far from having that readiness to
produce horn, which original parts possess.
To add to this, the operation was performed,
as indeed may be supposed, with the great-
est possible difficulty, obstructed by the
restlessness of the animal, and the constant
and excessive flow of blood.
Wounds of the Flexor Tendon.
The next injury which thefootof the horse
sustains by the puncture of a nail, or sub-
stance of that nature, is that of a wound of the
tendon of the flexor muscle, at its insertion
into the base of the cofiin-bone ; generally
more serious in its consequences than the
former, and sometimes even destructive of
the life of the animal.
OF CANKER. 95
The part into which the tendon is in-
serted, it will be observed, is directly under
the point of the frog, or within a very
short distance of that part; any deep
wound inflicted there, will be, therefore,
Hkely to aflfect it. The symptoms attend-
ing a wound of this nature are of the most
violent kind ; the lameness produced, is far
beyond that attendant on the same acci-
dent in any other part of the foot; the
animal raises his leg to a very considerable
height, and seems terrified at the idea of
extending it ; constitutional irritation, in a
greater or less degree, is a never failing
attendant; the action of the heart and
arteries is increased to double its natural
quickness, the pulse is small, though ex-
cessively quick, and the horse appears
insensible to every thing around him. In.
a fetal case which came under our observa-
96 OF CANKER.
tion, a locked jaw was the immediate fore-
runner of death.
The following case will best serve to
illustrate the nature of the symptoms at-
tending this injury, and its probable con-
sequence.
In the month of January last, a valuable
cart horse, the property of Messrs. Smith
and Turnbridge, of Bell Wharf, Shadwell,
was affected with a lameness, which was
observed soon after the animal had been
making some very considerable exertion ;
the person who drove it produced a nail
of very considerable size, which he stated
to have been drawn out from the side of
the frog, when the lameness was first ob-
served ; the horse was quite unable to
bring his foot to the ground, and seemed
OF CANKER. 97
in excessive pain ; on examining the foot,
a considerable puncture was observed by
the side of the frog, about midway between
its point and base, which seemed to
lead in a direction directly into the tendon,
a little above its insertion. A portion of
the horn was removed round the opening,
with the hopes of being able to ascertain
the extent of the injury; but the parts
were too deeply seated to admit of doing
this satisfactorily, and any further inter-
ference with them would probably have
been injurious, on account of the irritation
it would have excited. Under these cir-
cumstances, therefore, nothing further could
be done, than to employ blood-letting, with
purgatives, and to have recourse to fo-
mentations, in order to subdue the inflam-
mation, which had begun to extend high up
the leg.
H
98
OF CANKER.
On the following day, the violence of the
symptoms were increased ; and a disposi-
tion to Tetanus manifested itself, by a
curious distortion of the upper lip : Opium
was given in considerable quantities, and
the following day the irritation was dimi-
nished.
The pain seemed gradually to go off for
the space of a fortnight ; in the course of
which time, a portion of the tendon slough-
ed, and as there was a probability of the
whole of its insertion not having been
destroyed, it was thought advisable to
make every exertion to render the animal
asain fit for service. A considerable time
elapsed, however, before it was judged
prudent to make the attempt, and the de-
gree of lameness seemed gradually to de-
crease; the horse, however, still remains
OP €ANKER. 99
incapable of extending the leg to an equal
distance with its fellow.
Viewing this accident in its proper light,
we cannot but consider it as of the highest
importance, not only to the veterinary
science, and the animal itself, but to the
public at large, that it should be well un-
derstood ; a want of knowledge of its
nature at the instant, and an inability to
account for the violence of the symptoms ;
and as a necessary consequence of the
latter, ignorance of the proper mode of
treatment, might be at once destructive of
the life of the animal, and perhaps a very
serious loss to its owner. In many in-
stances, the violent symptoms will come
on with such rapidity as to allow littlie
time for consideration; and, therefore, in
all such cases, promptitude in the applica-
H 2
I
100 OF CANKER.
tion of our remedies is of the utmost im-
portance.
Constitutional irritation in a greater or
less degree, we have before stated, invari-
ably follovv^s the accident, though at some
length of time after it has occurred ; it
would, therefore, be proper to endeavour
to diminish the irritability of the system,
and thereby render it less liable to be vio-
lently affected, as soon as the injury is
received : and here it is to be lamented,
that the only purgative medicine on which
we can depend, is not quicker in its opera-
tion on the intestines ; we allude to aloes ;
if dissolved, however, instead of being
given in the common way, this inconve-
nience would be in some measure avoided.
Next to purgatives, the abstraction of
4
OP CANKER.
101
blood should be resorted to, which would
be serviceable, not only as diminishing the
tendency to irritation, but as preventive
of the local inflammation which may
ensue.
After these, then, have been had recourse
to, and the aloes have produced an effect
on the bowels, the administration of opium
in small doses would be advisable; nor
should the effect of the aloes be waited for
an instant previous to its exhibition, if any
tendency to spasm begins to appear; it is
the only means we possess of combat-
ing the principal danger, and as such,
of the highest possible importance; and
though its effects on the intestines would
be to counteract that of the preceding
medicine, yet the immense importance of
time will always be a strong argument in
102
OP CANKER.
the favour of its speedy use, and a sufficient
one to overbalance this objection.
The influence of warm fomentations, in
the treatment of inflammation, is so well
known, as perhaps scarcely to need our
mentioning it here ; it may be, therefore,
only necessary to enjoin their frequent,
and even constant application to the foot
and leg, as long as the inflammation con-
tinues.
After having, by these means, delivered
the animal from the chief danger, it be-
comes a matter of important consideration,
whether it has suffered in a degree by the
consequence of the accident to incapacitate
it to the performance of its work. If the
tendon can be satisfactorily ascertained to
have sloughed, the limb will consequently
OF CANKER. 103
be rendered almost useless, so far as con-
cerns its exertions ; and, in such a case,
it would be the duty of the professional
adviser to explain the occurrence to its
owner, and advise the only remaining plan
to be followed.
Wounds of tendons in the human sub-
ject were formerly considered extremely
dangerous, though a different opinion is
entertained by practical surgeons of the
present day; still, however, the tendency
to spasm very much prevails in such cases,
and is observed, in general, to depend, with
respect to its degree, on the state of t\\e
constitution ; robust, and what are com-
monly denominated healthy habits, pos-
sessed of great muscular power, being most
affected by it ; an observation which seems
to afford an explanation of the reason of
the horse suffering so much from this
104
OF CANKER.
occurrence ; as the muscular power of this
animal, and its great susceptibility of irri-
tation, must be evident to all who have
an opportunity of observing it under dis-
ease.
ON EINGBONES. 105
CHAP. V.
OHf RINGBONES.
AN anatomical description of the parts
concerned in this disease, appears to be a
necessary prelude to a description of the
disease itself ; as without a previous know-
ledge of such parts, the application of the
necessary terms, would create confusion in
the mind of the reader, and defeat the
great object which we have constantly
bqrne in mind, of rendering our language
and meaning as clear and perspicuous as
the subject permits.
106
ON RINGBOJIES.
The coffin-bone is contained within the
hoof, and connected to its inner surface by
the intervening lamellae; its articulatory
surface, where it is connected with what
is termed the small pastern bone, is situ-
ated considerably below the coronet; so
that, in fact, the joint itself is also con-
tained within the hoof. The edge of the
articulatory surface of the coffin-bone is
marked by a ridge, to which the capsular
ligament of the joint is attached, which
encloses the extremity of the small pastern
bone. The cartilages of the foot, the seat
of Ringbone, are situated on the outside of
this joint, and are seen on removing the
hoof, and glandular structure of the coro-
liet, spreading very extensively over its
sides, rising considerably above the coro-
net, and appearing to protect the jomt
from the action of the upper edge of the
hoof ; filling up also nearly the whole space
ON RINGBONES. 107
between the integuments and the capsular
ligament. They are attached by their
inferior edge to an excavation in the coffin-
bone, at the side of the joint; from which
they are continued towards its anterior
part, becoming thinner as they approach
the sides of the extensor tendon, with
which they appear continuous ; so that the
two cartilages, with that tendon, cover the
whole of the anterior and lateral parts of
the joint. From their attachment, before
mentioned, they also extend backward;
and, hence, has arisen their comparison to
a fan ; their superior edges, over the pos-
terior corner, or heel of the coffin-bone,
become turned inward, toward each other,
forming a kind of arch over the sensitive
frog ; the elasticity of which may be easily ^
felt in the living state : their posterior part
sends off a small portion, denominated the
stratiform process, which is turned round
108
ON RINGBONES.
the heel of the coffin-bone, and passing
along by the side of the sensitive frog, is
gradually lost in the adjoining parts.
The ossification of the above described
cartilages, constitute the disease of which
we are now to speak. The alteration in
structure taking place in those parts, is
that of the conversion of an elastic sub-
stance, whose peculiar property is neces-
sary to the proper performance of its
functions, into one, differing very little in
general from originally formed bone.
Viewing it in this light, therefore, we shall
not be surprized at the frequent causes of
lameness, which such a change is found to
afford.
With respect to the circumstance origin-
ally causing the deposition of bony matter
in the substance of the cartilages, it ap-
ON RINGBONES. 109
pears to us, to be the contraction of the
quarters, produced by the application of
the shoe ; and though the correctness of
such an idea does not admit of absolute
proof, still it is rendered extremely proba-
ble, by the situation in which the ossifica-
tion most commonly commences. As we
have demonstrated, in that part relating to
Sandcrack, that the alteration produced by
contraction of the quarters, is most strongly
felt at the corner or heel of the coffin-bone,
it may be reasonably supposed, that the
cartilage under that part would be very
much exposed to pressure ; and as pressure,
here applied, to a degree beyond what the
parts were originally destined to sustain,
miist be productive of pain and inflamma-
tion ; we have been hence led to form the
opinion before stated.
The indiscriminate occurrence of this
no ON RI^^GBONES.
change of structure, in all the different
species of horse, which have received the
shoe, seems to favour this opinion, inas-
much as it -excludes the probabilit}' of its
occurrence, as a consequence of any pe-
culiar state of the foot. It is true, however,
that the gradual, though constant pressure
produced by contraction on the cartilages,
does not seem to afford a ready explanation
of their ossification ; still, as the means
which nature has in store for the relief or
cure of disease, are in many cases so effec-
tual, and in all so admirably designed ; and
obvious as it is, that in almost every case
which comes under the eye of the surgeon,
she seems to have some appropriate means
of rehef, it would not, we presume, appear
extraordinary, were she to adopt some me-
thod of liberating the parts from an evil of
such a nature.
ON RINGBONES.
Ill
We believe it is generally admitted, that
the tenderness attendant on contraction, is
the effect of the pressure, and restraint of
the natural action of the cartilages ; and
as such pressure and restraint are constant
sources of irritation and inflammation,
there must evidently be a sufficient neces-
sity for the exertions of nature, if she
possessed the means, to remove the cause
of the affection, or render the parts incapa-
ble of being influenced by it. The only
method of accomplishing such an object,
therefore, seems to be that of ossification ;
the parts affected being thus rendered
insensible, the lameness becomes consider-
ably diminished.
The part at which the ossification first
commences, is immediately above the heel
of the coffin-bone ; the portion of cartilage
attached to that part, appearing first to
112 ON RINGBONES.
have a few small patches of earthy matter
deposited in it, which gradually increase in
size, intermix with each other, and become
united ; the deposition still continues, and
the ossification extends in a perpendicular
direction to the upper edge of the carti-
lage, when its hard bony prominence may
be very distinctly felt, rising above the
coronet ; it does not indeed become obvious
to the touch or sight, till it has attained
this height ; so that the process of ossifica-
tion must in all cases have been going on a
considerable time, before it becomes mani-
fest at that part.
The name which this affection has ob-
tained, appears to have been derived from
the idea that the ossification surrounded
the joint; and, consequently, that the
whole of the cartilage on eaeh side, was
converted into bone. Such, however, is
r
0/N; - RINGBONES. 113
far from being generally the case as ffei
gards its occurrenGe in saddle horses ; as the
ossification is, in the n^cijority of these cases,
confined to the space of an inch on either
side the heel of the coffin-bone ; and m many
' which have come under our observiation, in
dissection,- and which had been existing
during the greater part of the life of the
animal, the ossification was found to be
very inconsiderable. Still, however, the
dissection of very old draught horses fre-
quently shew the greater ' part of the
cartilages to be thus affected.
The portion of the cartilages which
become ossified, bear generally the same
degree of obliquity in their direction with
the coffin-bone and hoof ; so that when the
ossification is extensive on each side of the
foot, any action of the parts,, differing
much from that of direct progression, would
I
114 ON RINGBOKES.
be liable to bring the ossified cartilages,
and small pastern-bone, in contact with
each other, occcasionally, with consider-
able force, and producing a contusion of
the soft parts between ; and this is, no
doubt, what happens in those cases of
lameness which appear in horses affected
with Ringbone, after any sudden violence
sustained in the attempts of the animal to
prevent falling, in consequence of a slip
or false step, which is sometimes made
under great muscular exertion.
In the course of our researches, in the
morbid anatomy of the foot, we have
sometimes found an exostosis of the small
pastern, and occasionally also of the
shuttle bone ; an anchylosis of the joint
generally existed with these; and in one
case, the preparation of which is now in
our possession, the parts seem to have
undergone a total change, no traces of th«
ON RINGBONES/
115
joint, ligament, or cartilage remained, and
the whole was converted into an irregular
mass of bone. Never having ourselves
had an opportunity of observing any dis-
ease which terminated in such a manner,
we are somewhat at a loss to conjecture
what could have been its cause ; it is pro-
bable, however, that an improper treatment
of disease, of the nature described under
the head of Quittor, only could produce
it : an opening being first made in the
joint, and the animal possessing the power
of resisting the irritation immediately
following it, the common consequence of
inflammation of joints where it does not
prove fatal, was allowed time to take
place : namely, an ulceration of the car-
tilaginous extremities of bone, and an
union of them by ossific matter.
A case, which came under our obser-
I 2
116 ON RINGBONES.
vation sometime since, we may adduce as
an instance of the great strength which
the perfectly ossified cartilage possesses.
The horse, which was the subject of it,
was the property of Messrs. Wippell and
Judson, and had beeu atfected with Rino--
bones 'probably for some years. Having
become extremely lame, in consequence,
as was supposed, of . an injury inflicted by
the contact of the' ossified cartilage and
pastern-bone, in the before described man-
ner, the existence of some other disease
at the same time, ^together with its extreme
old age, deteri'nined those gentlemen on
its death ; and, on examination of the foot,
the coffin-bone was found fractured, about
midway between its heel and centre. : The
appearance of . contusion in the integu-
ments covering the ossified cartilage,'proved
that the violence which caused the frac-
ture was here received ; and consequently,
ON RINGBONES. 117
that , its strength must have been- .superior
to that, of the coffin-bone itself at the frac-
tured part.
In our treatment of this affection we are
necessarily confined to palliative means.
We believe that no application which can
be employed has hitherto been found to
give to the absorbents the power of re-
moving bone to such an extent as would
be here necessary, if a radical cure was
to be effected, though we are assured, by
some very late writers on Veterinary Sur-
gery, that blistering, or, as it is termed,
firing, will generally be found equal to the
production of such an effect. The falli-
bihtyi.of this and every other plan, with
respect to the removal of Ringbone, seems
however now to be so well and generally
understood as to need no further comment;
and when we are called to attend a case
118 ON EINGBONES.
where lameness has been produced by them,
we are not expected to do more than re-
move it, nor to render it less liable to occur
again.
The nature of the injury which is pro-
duced in consequence of Ringbones in the
before-described manner, is simply a con-
tusion of the soft parts, which generally
disappears in a short time afterwards, by
the adoption of appropriate measures. The
bar-shoe, to which we have so often had
occasion to revert, will be of material ser-
vice, as affording means of removing the
weight of the animal from that part of the
foot ; for the furtherance of which object
the wall of the affected quarter may be
rasped tolerably thin, and a small part
of its base removed by the knife, so as to
prevent its contact with the shoe.
It is generally observed, that horses af-
ON IllNGBONBS. 119
fected with Ringbone, very extensively are
subject to a degree of tenderness in their
walk in dry weather, the cause of which,
we believe, has not hitherto been satisfac-
torily accounted for.
It seems to be sufficiently explained, on
account of the more dry and contracted
state of the hoof at such periods, the effect
of which contraction must be, to compress,
in some small degree, the sensitive parts
situated between the hoof and ossified car-
tilage; and though this contraction may
be supposed to be too trifling to have a
very powerful effect of this kind, yet it
must be recollected, that the mechanical
adaptation of the parts is so extremely nice
as to be susceptible of the slightest change
which can possibly occur in either one of
them individually.
120 ON RINGBONES.
That this is really what happens in such
a case, appears to be clearly proved by the
effect of the plan which it at once seems
to dictate; namely the application of
moisture. The use of clothes dipt in cold
water, and kept constantly wrapt round
the hoof, will generally be found to remove
all appearance of tenderness, arising in the
above manner, in a short time after they
have been employed.
OF QUITTOR.
121
CHAP. VI.
OF QUITTOR.
The amount of everj thing which, we
believe, has hitherto been laid before the
public, with respect to this disease, is,
. that it consists of sinuses extendino" in
different directions at the coronet, which,
we are informed, are to be cured bj the
introduction of caustics.
It seems to have derived its name from
the attending discharge ; and all who have
hitherto spoken of it, appear to agree in
122
OP QUITTOR.
imputing it to some violence done to the
part, either by a blow received from the
opposite foot, or by a tread from the
caulking of another horse; and such are
no doubt the most common ways in which
the injury originally producing the disease
is inflicted.
The almost constant state of action of
the parts in which it is seated, affords an
explanation why injuries, even of the
slightest kind, here sustained, are so tedious
in their reparation ; the means which na-
ture adopts for that purpose being opposed
by such action, by the irritation therelDy
kept up in the diseased part.
The nature of the injury originally in-
flicted by this species of violence is that
of contusion, the severity of which is such
as completely to destroy the organization
OF QUITTOR.
of the part, and consequently its life. The
means, therefore, to which nature resorts
as a mode of cure in such a case, is not
that of rendering tlie part again equal to
the performance of its functions, but the
getting rid of it entirely, and the supplying
its place by the production of new sub-
stance ; and hence, in the incipient state
of this disease, a slough, or, what is termed
by Farriers a core, is discharged, which
leaves a clean ulcerated surface, to which
the attention is afterwards to be directed.
With respect to the treatment of the
ulcerated surface remaining after the se-
paration of the slough, it ought to be that
most tending to diminish the attending in-
^i-wiraation. Poultices and fomentations
ought, therefore, to be resorted to ; and the
animal should be kept in a state of in*
op QUITTOll.
action till the injury has been repaired, and
the sore healed.
We have said such ought to be the plan
of treatment ; but we are far from meaning
that such is generally adopted ; if it were,
indeed, we should never hear of injuries
of this kind proving destructive of the
life of the horse, which unfortunately is
but too common an occurrence. What
is the common method of treatment, then,
is next to be considered. The Farrier, there-
fore, instead of theplanaboverecommended,
proceeds to effect an object which he deems
indispensably necessary, in all such cases,
to the ultimate cure of the disease ; namely,
the bringing away a co/*e from the part. Here,
then is a subject which allows full scf*'--?
for the exercise of ingenuity ; the means by
which this core is to be separated is selected
QF QUITTOR.
125
from a numerous list of cauterizing appli-
cations readily resorted to on all occa-
sions, and which have each of them the
title of specifics of an infallible nature in
some one or other of the diseases of the
foot.
_ • As far as yve h^^ve been able to observe,
corrosive sublimate seems to be considered
the most eligible for this complaint. A quan-
tity of this active preparation is applied to
the part, which of course answers the expec-
tation of the prescri ber and. probably by thi&
time, if the injury is inflicted on the side
oF'theifoot, as it generally is, the smooth,
shining. i, surface of the. lateral cartilage
becomes exposed ; then, immediately this
poisonous something, — this cQriC;; which is
so diligently sought for /iiji;^ the bottom of
every, sore, becomes at once obvious to
the senses, and they proceed with re-
OF QUITTOR,
doubled efforts to extract it. For this
purpose, they again fill the excavation with
the same preparation, by which the car-
tilage is at length destroyed ; or rather an
opening made through it, which admits
their applications into contact with the
capsular ligament of the joint. It would
be fortunate for the animal if their per-
nicious plan was discontinued here ; but
some are not even now satisfied ; and cases
have no doubt frequently occurred where
that ligament was actually opened, and
the bones observed moving upon each
other, before the perseverance of these sons
of Vulcan would suffer them to acknow-
ledge the case incurable. Indeed, when-
ever this latter circumstance occurs, the
poor animal generally very soon con-
descends to save them the degradation
of such an acknowledgment, by its
death.
OF QUITTOJl.
127
When the cartilages have been injured
in the above manner, a receptacle is
formed on their inner side for the matter
which is secreted by the part, and which
being there retained, makes its way be-
tween the cartilages « and ligament, and
forms sinuses in various directions. The
cartilages being less vascular, are not ca-
pable of bearing the inflammation like
other parts, and being also in many parts
denuded by the matter burrowing under
them, become destroyed to a consider-
able extent. Those parts which are ex-
posed, during the progress of sloughing,
undergo a change of colour ; become first
yellow, then green, and finally separat-
ing, are discharged through the original
opening. If, however, they become dead,
as occasionally happens, under the ad-
joining healthy glandular structure se-
creting the hoof, they there excite irri-
l^O OF QUITTOR.
tation, and cause the formation of several
small sinuses through the superincumbent
healthy structure, by which the dead part
is at length discharged.
In the commencement of the foregoing
description, we have mentioned the origin
of the disecis(^ as a slough of the integu-.
ments ; that the cartilages are affected
secondarily, and in consequence of im-
proper treatment. This, however, is not
always, and perhaps not the most common
manner of its occurrence.
The cartilages being less vascular, as we
have before stated, and more easily de-
stroyed by inflammatory action than the
soft parts, would, it may be supposed, be
incapable of resisting the same degree of
injury. It therefore happens, that when a
blow has been received upon them, though
OP QUITTOR.
129
protected by the integuments, a small por-
tion will become destroyed, and a pro-
portionally small fistulous orifice will be
formed for its discharge through the integu-
ments. This, therefiare, is another form
under which the disease first appears, and
which, like the former, would probably be
its termination, if properly treated. As,
however, that is not generally the case,
and as the animal is unrestrained from
motion of the parts, the irritation is in-
creased; further inflammation and con-
sequent destruction of cartilage occurs,
and more sinuses are formed. The irrita-
tion produced by sirnply allowing motion
of the parts would itself be suflScient,
eventually, for the destruction of the car-
tilage ; but will it be believed, that it is a
custom to cram the sinuses with corrosive
sublimate! The bare mention of such a
circumstance to a Physiologist would al-
E
150 0* QUITTOR.
most shock belief ; and we ourselves would
not hazard the assertion, did it not admit
of frequent occular demonstration.
The treatment of Quittor in its incipient
state is the same, whether appearing as a
slough of the integuments, or in the form
of a sinus ; the indication is evidently to
diminish irritation ; and though the ap-
pearance of a single sinus may at first
warrant the supposition that an extensive
injury of the cartilage had occurred, still,
if this indication be attended to, it will be
found, we may venture to assert, sufficient
for the cure ; for in the many cases of this
nature which have come under our ob-
servation, we can conscientiously aver,
that a strict attention to it never failed to
prevent the appearance of a second sinus.
The constant application of poultices
QUITTOR.
131
to the coronet will be found to be a power-
ful means of subduing irritation, and there-
fore merits particular attention. An inactive
state of the limb is absolutely necessary to
be observed ; and as the sinuses generally
run in a direction likely to be very much in-
fluenced by pressure, it becomes a matter
of consideration how such pressure can be
best removed from the part.
If the disease occurs above the inner
quarter, as is the case in the majority of
instances, it is a practice with us to rasp
that part sufficiently thin to render it in-
capable of communicating any pressure to
the parts adjoining the coronet, when the
foot is in contact with the ground. Whe-
ther existing, however, at the inner quarter,
or any other part of the foot, the horn of
the hoof, not only immediately under it,
but to as great an extent as is admissible
K 2
132 OF QUITTOR.
OH its sides, should be treated in the sanie
way.
A bar shoe is of course to be employed,
and if the sinuses should appear slow in
closing, after the inflammation has been,
by the above means subdued, they might
be injected with a solution of sulphate of
zinc in the proportion of one drachm to
four ounces, with considerable advantage.
It happens not unfrequently that one of
the sinuses is situated in the coronet im-
mediately above what is termed the heel ;
and, on examining it with a probe, it will
be found to extend downwards, between
the hoof and sensitive parts, to the inner
surface of the bars and frog, and causing
a separation of the horn of those parts to
a considerable extent. The treatment,
thereforCj in such a case, would be to fol-
OP QUITTOH. ^ 133
low its course with the drawing knife,
removing all the separated horn, and con-
fining any simple application which may
be thought necessary afterwards to the
exposed surface, by means of bandages
passed -round the hoof. In the employ-
ment of these, however, in such a case,
the means which are most effectual in
producing horn in other parts are not ad-
missible; for any pressure applied here
must be communicated to the cartilage
underneath ; and if that substance were
diseased in any part, it would occasion
much mischief by the irritation it would
not fail to excite. In preference, therefore,
to risking an occurrence of this kind, it
would be advisable to apply the bandages
only sufficiently tight to retain the appli-
cation on the part, till the cartilage had
regained its healthy state, when, if pressure
134 OF QUITTOR.
be found necessary, it may be safely ap-
plied.
It has been recommended by some, and
is probably extensively practised to dilate
the various sinuses which may appear to
their utmost extent : when, therefore, they
are situated under the cartilages, between
these and the capsular ligament, the former
of these parts must necessarily be cut
through. The division of the cartilage,
however, is not all which is done in such
cases; for, as it appears to have been a
pretty generally received opinion, that the
inner surface of the sinus is incapable of
producing granulations, it becomes neces-
sary that it should be completely removed
by the knife before a cure can take place.
In conformity, therefore, with this ide^, a,
probe is introduced into the sinus, in order
OF QUITTOR.
135
to ascertain its direction ; the operator
then boldly carries his knife to a sufficient
depth to reach it; and, by a semi-rota-
tory motion of the hand under it, brings
the knife out on its opposite side; and
thus he includes, as he imagines, the sinus
in the incision, together^ with the super-
incumbent glandular structure of the coro-
net. We say imagines, because we think it
improbable that any degree of certainty
can exist with respect to the depth which
tlie* knife has gone at the time of turning
it; an inconvenience which will be very
much felt by a timid operator, as his fears,
seldom suffering him to go deep enough at
first to remove the diseased part, will give
rise to a necessity for a repetition of the
jricision. In the hands of others, however,
of a less cautious disposition, the knife may
be carried too low ; and thus an opening
will be formed in the capsular ligament of
136' OF QUITTOR.
the joint. Nor is this an imaginary fear;
for the small space between the cartilage
and ligament, and consequent contiguity
of the sinus to the latter part, would render
an excision of it, without encroaching on
the ligament, a matter of great difficulty.
The cartilage and ligament indeed are so
closely connected with each other at one
part as to be inseparable ; the operation,
consequently, under any circumstances,
will be extremely dangerous. To a per-
son acquainted with these facts, the man-
ner of performing it, supposing it were
necessary, would be an insuperable ob-
jection to it : it is not merely to the
manner of performing it, however, but to
the operation itself, that we bring forward
objections which we think merit, and should
hope wodd obtain consideration from those
whose interest and duty it is to be well-
informed on this point.
OF QUITTOR. 1S7
Supposing, therefore, a sinus, extending
down near the capsular ligament, is treated
in this way, the horn immediately over it
is first removed; in order to expose its
course, the operation described is performed,
and the cartilage divided : instead of heal-
ing, as a common wound, however, as is
expected, the irritation occasioned by the
divided edge of the cartilage, is observed
in a little time to have produced fresh
sinuses, extending more deeply down, and
calling for a repetition of the operation ;
and thus the disease will continue extend-
ing, till the patience of the proprietor of
the animal is quite exhausted ; or, if re-
covery ever takes place, it will not be
before the expence of medical attendance
and support amount to more than its ori-
ginal value.
Another and equally important objection
-^^^ OF QUITTOll.
to the operation, is the necessary extensive
destruction of the glandular structure of the
coronet, by means of which the hoof is pro-
duced. It may be readily supposed, that
where this has been destroyed or injured, its
functions cannot be properly carried on ;
and therefore, after an operation of this
kind has been performed, a deficient
formation of horn is the consequence, de-
nominated a false quarter.
Of the nature of a false quarter it perhaps
may be necessary to say but little ; its in-
conveniences and deformity are too well
known to require it. To say the least of
it, it is an irremediable blemish, and as.
such, requiring our utmost exertion to pre^
vent.
Unhke many of the plans adopted in
the treatment of the diseases of the horse^
we think we can trace this to something-
OF QUITTOR. 439,
like rationality. It seems to have taken
its origin from a' principle of human sm--
gerj, of reducing the disease to the nature
of a simple incised wound. If this, how-
ever,, really was the case, we should think
it would have been advisable on the part
of its original proposer, to have considered
more fully the nature of the parts on which
he was about to act, and the functions
which those parts had to perform : if he
had done this, he would have foreseen the
obstacle which the cut edges of the car-
tilage afforded to the healing of the parts ;
he would have foreseen also, that a part
like that destined to the formation of horn
could never be produced in any thing like
its original strength; and he would con-
sequently have known that the horn pro-
duced hereafter by those parts, would be
Xery inferior in strength to that produced
^"^^ OF QUITTOR.
where no such operation had been per-
formed.
It sometimes happens that a shght de-
gree of violence, inflicted immediately at
the anterior part of the coronet, will cause
the formation of a small sinus between the
hoof and soft parts covering the extensor
tendon, exciting considerable irritation and
lameness, and causing a separation of the
horn from the soft parts.
The treatment of such a case would con-
sist of a removal of the separated horn, and
the application of pressure ; it would also
be advisable to rasp the hoof tolerably thin
in the adjoining parts, and direct the em-
ployment of a bar shoe, in such a manner
as to prevent any influence they might de-
rive from the weight of the body.
OF QUITTOR.
141
From the foregoing description of this
disease, and the plan of treatment which
we have adopted, it will appear that our
opinion, with respect to the extension of
the sinuses, and the great difficulty of
healing them, is, that these untoward
circumstances are the effect of the irri-
tation which is kept up in the parts by
their action ; and such, we think, will be
the opinion of every one who fully consi-
ders the nature of this action and its ef-
fect on the sinuses, running, as they do,
in directions which expose them to the in-
fluence of the slightest action of the joint
and of pressure when the animal throws
any part of its weight on the diseased
foot. This opinion will also be strengthened
by a consideration of the great power of
reproduction of parts destroyed by acci-
dent or disease, which the horse possesses,
and which would enable him, in all cases,
/
to recover from injuries of this kind, were
not the means adopted by nature for such
an effect, counteracted by some unnatural
cause : what cause, therefore, of this kind
can exist here, but that of the irritation
produced by the action of the parts? - •
It would be improper to pass over, with*
out notice here, the practice of blistering
the coronet in cases where this disease has'
caused the production of horn which is
unequal in strength to that of the other
parts of the foot. It is well known that
Veterinary Surgeons are sometimes very
disagreeably situated in cases where a
horse has recovered under their care, from
any disease where the production of horn
is concerned, on account of the anxiety of
the owner, naturally produced by the long
confinement of the horse in the stable, to
place it at work before the horn has re-
OF QtJITTOR.
143
gained the necessary degree of strength :
and, as a blister applied here may be sup-
posed to give rise to a necessity for the
prolongation of its confinement, it would
probably prove advantageous, by allowing
more time for the attainment of this object.
We cannot, however, yield our assent to
the opinion, that the application of a
blister contributes, in any degree, to
strengthen the horn which is produced.
144
ON THE EFFECTS OF
9>
CHAP. VII.
ON THE EFFECTS OF THE APPLICATION
OF THE SHOE.
The contraction of the quarters in the
fore-feet of the horse, and the evils which
it tends to produce, has long since attracted
the attention of Veterinarians. Both re-
search and theory, however, till within
these few years, appears to have been ex-
hausted and defeated in the discovery of
its cause.
The existence of evils which are gene-
rally felt, will always become objects of
ITHE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 145
more extensive inquiry than those which
are only partially so ; for a greater num-
ber of individuals will be prompted by-
interest to the discovery of the source from
whence they spring, in order to their re-
moval : the contraction of the quarters
above alluded to, affords ample proof of
the truth of this observation ; for since the
revival of the Veterinary Science in this
country ; since the previously inexplicable
habits of tripping or stumbUng, of frequent
or constant lameness in horses, which ap-
peared to exhibit no other marks of dis-
ease, have been found to be referrible to
this occurrence, it has become an object of
universal interest.
Bad shoeing, previous to the time of
Lafosse, was the only method which existed
of accounting for it : to him however, and
perhaps in some degree to the French
14j6 ON" THE ETFECTS OF
Academy, who appear to have greatly en-
couraged his attempts at improvement of
the science, we are indebted for the first
step towards the overthrow of those prin-
ciples which taught us, in opposition to
our better judgment, to consider the rules
and practices of our predecessors as laws
which could not be deviated from with
propriety or justice: and however erro-
neous his doctrine may since have proved,
we cannot deny him the merit of first
opposing reasoning and inquipy to prac-
tices supported only by custom, and which
neither of these faculties had any share in
estabhshing. The theory of pressure on
the frog, as a method of preventing con-
traction, which has been since revived, and
still continues to be taught in this coun-
try, owes its origin to him ; and, though
not admitting of reduction to practice,
exhibits traits of ingenuity, we have reason
1.1.
THE APPLICATION OP TH3E SHOE. 147
to believe, not very common among Ve«
terinary Practitioners at that period.
With respect to the causes of contraction
much difference of opinion exists ; nor is
it to be expected that such will cease to
exist, till prejudice, the most constant and
important bar to every species of improve-
ment in science, shall have yielded to habits
of impartial inquiry and candid disquisi-
tion; for then only can the truth be fully
understood and admitted.
That contraction is a deviation from
the natural state of the foot, no one has
for a moment presumed to doubt: it was
evident, therefore, that its cause must be
sought among those incidents which occur
to the animal in its domesticated state.
Hence the dry state of the stable, bacL
shoeing, and, at length, a want of pressure
L 2
14S
cm the frog, were adduced. That the?
former of these has any influence in pra^
ducing it, admits of a doubt; and with
respect to the second, it is a term too
vague to convey any just idea ; nor was
it probably ever understood or defined by
those who employed it for, as they were
ignorant of the mechanism of the foot, they
could not possess any sound principle by
which their shoeing might be regulated ;
and accordingly, what they might have
termed good shoeing, would probably have
been as subversive of the nature and action
of the foot as the very worst of the pre-
sent day.
That pressure on the frog would prevent
contraction, appears, on superficial ex-
amination, extremely probable, because its'
mfecihanical influence directly opposes it;
butj unfortunately for this theory, there
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 149
are two or three circumstances whicli go
far towards proving that pressure on the
frog never was by nature intended, in the
shgh test degree, much less that it should
serve the purposes of a wedge to separate
bodies of infinitely greater power than
itself, and that so far from being necessary
to health or the cure of disease, its in-
fluence is diametrically opposite in each
of these respects ; as will appear from the
facts we are presently about to offer.
It is by accurate observation of animal
bodies, in a state of health, that we are
to become competent judges of the various
changes they undergo from disease : the
few opportunities which have occurred of
observing the foot of the horse ' in its
natural and fully evolved state, owing to
the practice of shoeing them previous to
their attaining it, has probably contributed
150
ON THE EPFECTS OF
very materially to retard the progress of
discovery and improvement in this part
of the Veterinary Science; those who re-
collect the work of St. Bel, the first Pro-
fessor of the Veterinary College on this
subject, will readily agree with us in this
opinion, as even the plate which he sent
forth with it, as the pattern of a healthy
foot, was certainly the delineation of one in
a considerably advanced stage of con-
traction.
As the mechanism of the foot and its
action are importantly concerned in this
question, a few observations on it be-
come necessary. Whoever considers the
great sensibility and vascularity which its
internal parts possess, and how susceptible
they must be of the operation of external
causes, cannot but be convinced, that if
the foot had been surrounded by horn of
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 151
an equal thickness and strength with that
of its anterior and lateral parts, the Avant
of elasticity, and consequent sudden re-
sistance with which it meets, when brought
in contact with the ground, even with an
ordinary degree of force, could not fail to
be productive of severe concussion. The
same inconvenience would be felt even
as the foot is formed, were the quarters
composed of hard and inelastic materials ;
and therefore nature has given to them
the power of expansion when the foot is
brought in contact with the ground : by
the interruption to the circular figure of the
hoof between the heels, and by the insertion
of the frog at this part, a substance consi-
derably more yielding and elastic, she has
also given sufficient room for the exercise of
this property. From this admirable con-
trivance the quarters derive the power of
receding from each other when any weight
152 ON THE EFFECTS OF
is imposed from above; of yielding gradually
to it in proportion to its degree, and thereby
effectually preventing the occurrence of
any sudden shock which may prove in-
jurious to the internal parts of the foot.
Besides the elastic properties which
exist in the foot in its natural state, its
conformation is materially different from
those which have received the shoe. On
viewing it with the sole turned upwards,
one of the most striking instances of the
combination of utility and beauty, existing
perhaps in the animal economy, is mani-
fested. So closely indeed are these pro-
perties connected in the foot, of the horse,
that the former cannot exist to the extent
nature intended, without the latter; and
the latter is an equally constant attendant
©n the former, the open luxuriance of the
§ole and frog, bounded posteriorly by the
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. 153
uniform rotundity of the heels, proves how
important a consideration beauty has ob-
tained from nature in the formation of
animals, Avhere its employment is consistent
with utihty; and conveys to the mind a
sensation of regret, that so exquisite a
performance should become a sacrifice to
the means which render the animal ne-
cessary to our service.
In the natural state of the foot, at the
age when all its parts are become fully
evolved, or about the fifth year, the pro-
portion of the frog with the sole, and the
open state of the heels is remarkable; the
base of the frog is invariably found, on ad-
measurement, to be equal to one-sixth of
the whole circumference of the foot; and
the cleft, instead of the narrow fissure it
appears in contracted feet, is open and
expanded, and occupies a space equal to
one-third of the base of the frog. The ob-
304 ON THE EFFECTS OF
servation respecting the proportion of this
latter part with the circumference of the
foot has been' justly said to be important,
as it affords a probably accurate method of
ascertaining the degree of contraction the
foot may have undergone at any period
after it has received the shoe. Other curious
remarks have been made respecting this
subject, which are of an highly interesting
nature ; as that the wearing points of the
hoof are not as might be expected at the
toe and extremity of each quarter, but
chiefly On the outer side of the former part
and external quarter, which appears to be
the effect of a pecuhar formation of the
bones of the knee, by w^hich the feet are
at the same time prevented from interfering
with each other in progression ; the weight
too of the fore quarters is thrown, by this
construction, to a greater distance from the
centre of gravity which falls between the
^egs ; aod this, or the prevention of inter-
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. 155
ference of the fore extremities with each
other, appears to be the primary object
which natm-e has in view in thus form-
ino' the bones of the knee : the extensive
bearing on the outer side of the foot is a
necessary consequence of these, and per-
haps the deficiency of strength of the inner
quarter may be referred to them, as it
may be readily supposed, that as this part
is not destined to share the weight to an
equal degree with others, it may not be
of necessity so strong. Another, however,
and a more important observation, so fair
as is connected with the question of the
functions of the frog, is, that in the na-
tural foot the Avall of the hoof is not as in
those which have been shod on a level with
the sole, but projects below it to a distance
equal to its thickness, so that if the foot be
placed on smooth ground, no part of the
frog, even in the expanded state of the foot>
lOO ON THE EFl-ECTS OF
comes in contact with it. It may be ob-
served, in answer to this, that the horse is
not destined to move only on level ground,
and consequently the Irog will not fail to
receive pressure under opposite circum-
stances. Supposing the horse, however,
bears this pressure with ease and conve-
nience on irregular ground, it is cer-
tainly not hence to be said, that it was
intended by nature to be constant and
^ violent, and equally forcible, when the
foot is off the ground, as in contact w^ith
it: yet such it certainly must be in the
use of the patent frog. We have now to
state a fact which will perhaps individually
be sufficient to decide this question;
and which admits of ocular demonstra-
tion : it is, that the horse placed on unequal
ground, so as for the fi'og to sustain ^
portion of the weight, becomes restless
and uneasy, and continues changing t}je
THE APPLICATION OV THE SHOE. 157
situation of his feet, till he succeeds ia
placing them where that part is left at li-
berty and free from compression.
To return from this digression to the
description of the alteration taking place
in the foot after it has received the shoe,
we need not perhaps inform our readers
that this subject has been submitted to the
test of a series of experiments, satisfactory
in their result, and clearly demonstrative
of the fact they were originally set on foot
to discover. The foot, which was their
subject, answered the description given in
the preceding pages :* " The horny heels,
from one to the other, in the original state
* In order to render the matter as clear as possible,
casts were regularly taken with plaster of Paris, the
whole of which being preserved, served to show the
gradual increase of the contraction in a very satisfactory
manner.
158 6n tH£ etfects of
of the part, measured somewhat more than,
four inches ; in the second cast (taken after
twelve months shoeing) scarcely three.
The foot measured across its widest part,
viz. at the greatest swell of the quarters,
was in the original cast nearly five inches
and a half ; in the second it was four inches
and seven-eighths/' The frog too was
materially altered : " the cleft at its base
had become partly closed ; forming a
rounded ill-formed hole, and much deeper
than the cleft of the natural foot. The
base of the frog, which was in the natural
foot of the width of tw^o inches and a half,
tiad now become hardly so much as two
inches. The bai-s had considerably lost
their sloping direction, and had become
more perpendicular and encroaching on
the sides of tke frog, and consequently
more disposed to compress it."' Thus we
see, in the space of so short a time, a ma-
terial alteration in many parts of the foot
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 15^
connected in any degree with that mobiUty
of the quarters which was given by nature
for the wisest of purposes, and which i&
doubtless absolutely necessarj^^ to the well-
being of the foot; this elasticity is now
in a great measure lost, because the wide,
open state of the quarters and frog, which
was necessary to its existence, is destroyed.
After a second year's shoeing of the
same foot, the hoof appeared to become
more stiff and inflexible : " the quarters
more straitened, and a further reduction
of its bulk, of near half an inch, had taken
place. The cleft of the frog had become
narrower ; the foot had run out and in-
creased at the toe, as though this part,
from having no restraint, had increased
at the expence, as it were, of the diminish-
ing quarters and heels, being further in
extent before the point of the frog." We
now proceed to mention the further changes
160
O^f THE EfFECTS OF
which were exhibited in the following casts,
taken annually in succession. The area
of the foot, in its transverse diameter,
is seen further diminishing, and the con-
dition into which the preceding reduction
has brought the foot, will occasion lesser
degrees of this change to be now more
severely felt. The horn is every where in
more close embrace to the sides and poste-
rior parts of the foot : the sole, thickened
and almost inactive, creates a resistance
also in this direction ; and a general want
of elasticity will occasion the movement
of the bones within the hoof, and the hoof
itself to be diminished and constrained,
the vascular organization uniting and at-
taching the hoof and bone together,
becomes diminished, and its functions
impaired," &c. Sec.
'-Another and very important observation,
made by the author, from whom we have
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. l6l
taken the preceding quotations, is, that
the frog makes a considerable descent in
consequence of the apphcation of the shoe;
a circumstance which the favourers of the
doctrine of pressure on this part may
probably construe into a natural disposi-
tion to meet the ground, but which seems
to be more satisfactorily explained as fol-
lows. If the nailing of the shoe to the foot
fixes the quarters (of which there cannot
possibly be a doubt), they must be equally
incapable of possessing the two properties
of elasticity, namely, that of yielding
to pressure, and of regaining its original
state previous to compression. The pres-
sure from above, therefore, has the effect
it may be supposed to have in the fixed
state of the hoof ; the frog is gradually
forced down by it, while the want of
power of contraction prevents its regain-
ing its place: its mechanical influence^
M
ft'
162 ON THE EFFECTS OF
is that which pressure always will have on
bodies incapable of resisting it entirely,
and yet sufficiently strong to yield to it only
in a trifling degree.
To those not well acquainted with this
subject, the foregoing relation of the changes
which the foot undergoes will appear al-
most incredible. Not the slightest exag-
geration, however, we are authorized in
observing, has been permitted ; for such
changes certainly take place in every foot
which is shod with iron in the common
manner ; and it is a matter of interesting
inquiry to the physiologist, why they are
not productive of more obvious conse-
quences in the gait of the animal than are
usually manifested. It is certain, that the
horse very soon becomes sensible of the
influence of the shoe after it is applied ;
for he gradually loses that freedom of
action which he previously possessed, and
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. l6S
assumes a timid manner of using his fore
legs, fearing to extend them so freely as
he is found to do in a state of nature ; but
as this habit is too common to be observed
by those who have not had opportunities
of seeing the animal previous to its receiv-
ing the shoe, its existence is not suspected.
The usual effect of pressure, applied to
living parts, is to cause an absorption, or
wasting of those parts ; and this appears to
be the only manner of accounting for the
small degree of pain which the horse
manifests while the process of contrac-
tion is going on ; for, as the pressure is not
at first violent, but continues gradually to
increase, the absorption of the soft parts
between the coffin-bone and hoof is pro-
portionate to it, and thus a gradual de-
crease, more particularly of those which are
most compressed, gives room for the con-
traction to go on till their greater part is
M ^
i{J^ ON THE EFFECTS OF
taken up by the absorbents, and the hoo-f
has but little more to embrace than the
coffin-bone itself; and even it at length
becomes affected by the contraction, the
beautiful reticulated appearance of its ex-
ternal surface, near the heels, is obliterated,
in consequence of the pressure it sustains,
and its figure becomes materially altered.
If the nature of the action of the quar-
ters requires farther elucidation than has
been attempted in the preceding pages,
■we may remark, that it has been compared
to that of a bow ; and it will be found, on
examination, that this comparison is not
improperly applied, even as regards the
functions of the frog ; for, as instruments
of this kind require limits for their ex-
pansion, the quarters, if their action is of
the same nature, may be supposed to
stand equally in need of them, and they
THE APPLICATION" OF THE SHOE. l65
are accordingly provided, as we shall pre-
sently demonstrate in the formation of the
frog, this organ having the power of yield-
ing gradually to the expansion ; of checking
it when it has taken place to a certain
extent ; and of retraction of the quarters
to their original state, previous to placing
the foot on the ground. The readiness
with which the quarters contract is satis-
factorily explained by their want of that
internal support which the coffin-bone af-
fords to other parts of the hoof ; for it will
be understood, that the heel of the coffin-
bone does not extend to the posterior ex-
tremity of the quarters, and consequently,
every part beyond this will be destitute of
any resistance to contraction beyond what
the soft, elastic matter, filling up the space
between the heels of the coffin-bone and
inner surface of the posterior part of the
frog and quarters, is capable of affording.
3
l66 ON THE EFFECTS OF
;No principle of practice, which is er-
roneous, can have its defects long con-
cealed, because the test bj which it is
tried will ever be impartial : wrong prin-
ciples lead to erroneous practices, and
the effects of the practice will be the best
means by which we can judge of the prin-
ciple: but if it is not hence said, that a
universal trial of the practice is necessary
to the approval or condemnation of the
principle, we shall be fully justified in
making the few following observations,
confident that those few who have, like
ourselves, investigated the matter which is
the subject of them, will afford us a ready
concurrence.
Any principle by which the manage-
ment of so important a part as the foot of
' the horse is regulated, ought not to be
equivocal in the slightest particular ; for.
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. l67
as the diseases, and causes of disease of
this particular part, are more numerous
and more frequently occurring than those
of any other, the more extensive will be
the injury produced where the principle
of practice is erroneous. It is this consi-
deration which induces us to be more
solicitous of submitting to the attention of
the reader the observations alluded to on
the doctrine of pressure on the frog.
If this part had been intended by nature
to receive pressure (the only plea by which
the employment of pressure can be justified),
one should expect that she would have pro-
portioned its solidity to the performance of
this office ; for it would be infinitely differing
from the rest of her performances, had she
assigned any particular office to a part, and
not given that part properties which only
could have enabled it to perform such of-
fice : yet this she certainly has done, if she
10» ON THE EFFECTS OH
ever intended that the frog should receive
the degree of pressure necessary to pre-
vent contraction of the quarters ; an ob-
servation, the truth of Avhich will be evinced
on examination of the natural foot : the horn
of the frog will be here found so thin and
yielding, as to be capable of alteration from
the slightest impression of the finger, reced-
ing on pressure, and gradually regaining its
original state after its removal, (a property
which would rather seem to suggest the
idea, that the appHcation of force was in-
jurious, since it seems to be a provision
against the accidental occurrence of pres-
sure of a pretty similar nature to that
against concussion of the internal parts by
the elasticity of the quarters) : there is,
bes^ides, a medium through which the
pressure must be conveyed, in order to have
the effect of expansion of the quarters,
and this medium is even of a more unre-
sisting nature than the horn of the frog :
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. l6'9
it is composed of the soft substance filling
up the space between the inner surface of
this part and the quarters and posterior
part of the coffin-bone, commonly deno-
minated the fatty, or sensible frog, and the
lateral cartilages which have been described
under the head of ringbone ; thus the
pressure must be first applied to a body,
softer, and of less power than the parts it
is intended to act on, and to be trans-
mitted from this through others still softer,
to its final destination, viz. the inner sides
of the quarters.
It would be unnecessary to make any
comment on this part of the subject, were
it not a preparatory . step towards ascer-
taining the bad efi^ects which pressure on
this part may have under circumstances of
disease: it will have been already under-
stood, that the immediate cause of the
expansion of the quarters is the impulse of
170
ON THE EFFECTS OF
weight from above :. if .pressure, therefore,
be apphed to the frog, it will be met by
that of the weight of the animal from the
bones of the foot ; the soft parts, therefore,
composing the sensitive frog, will be placed,
by this plan, in a situation, better imagined
perhaps than described, compressed, how-
ever, between two opposing bodies with *
considerable force. We have stated, in
another page, that the effect of pressure,
gradually applied and increased, would
be the absorption or wasting of parts; but
here it will be obvious, that the pressure
is neither gradual or slight; the consequence
of it, therefore, will be inflammation of
the parts sustaining it, and hence arises that
lameness which follows the use of the patent
artificial frog. What, therefore, would be
the influence of this plan in cases of thrush,
in which disease the parts are constantly
under considerable irritation : compressed
as they are by two opposing powers, this
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. l7l
irritation is aggravated to such an extent
as to render its discontinuance absolutely
necessary ; and yet there are those who
have been sanguine enough to expect the
removal of this disease from its employ-
ment.
The sensitive frog does not possess the
power, very extensively, of expanding la-
terally, when pressed on above or below ;
the quarters, therefore, in horses, which
have strong hoofs, would probably not be
expanded In this way to the extent they
would be, simplj^ by the weight from above
in the natural state of the foot.
The preceding remark * on the yielding
nature of the frog will be seen to be only
applicable in the natural state of the foot,
the only state where a proper idea of the
* Page 168.
172 ON THE EFFECTS OF
functions of its several parts can be ob-
tained, and in which it will be sufficiently
obvious, that pressure will be productive
of mischief The constant habit which
has existed, of mistaking the foot, advanced
in contraction, for that in a state of nature,
perhaps in some degree tends to explain
the origin of the idea of the frog being
destined to receive pressure, for in con-
tracted feet it loses its resemblance in
almost every particular, and instead of the
soft yielding horn existing in the natural
frog, a hard, firmly resisting body is pre-
sented to the touch, of a degree of thick-
ness bearing no proportion to that of the
horn of the frog in the natural state. Its
appearance, therefore, seems calculated to
generate this idea of its functions, and it
would probably, in some degree, if com-
pressed, effect the expansion of the quar-
ters ; that is, if the quarters possessed
their original degree of mobihty: if subject
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. 173
to continual compression in this state, it
may also retard, in some measure, the
fiirther progress of contraction, not, how-
ever, by communicating the pressure to
the sensitive frog, but solely by its own
strength ; for as the figure of the surfaces
of the frog, as will be presently seen, is
that of an inverted arch, the pressure on
the centre of this arch, which takes place
as applied in the common manner, is com-
municated to its sides, and thence directly
to the bars and quarters. It will be ob-
vious, indeed, that in all cases where the
horn of the hoof is so thick as to be inca-
pable of alteration of its arched figure, by
compression, the sensitive frog will not be
compressed in the slightest degree, but the
pressure applied will be naturally trans-
mitted to the sides of the arch, and thence
to the quarters. Very few frogs, however,
even of highly contracted feet, appear to
174 ON THE EFFECTS OP
be capable of bearing this degree of pres-
sure long, but, yielding gradually to it, at
length convey it to the sensitive frog, and
lameness, sooner or later, will be found to
follow.
The system of thin heeled shoeing was,
we believe, established with the intention
of suffering the frog to come in contact
with the ground, and thus to prevent con-
traction ; but it will be seen that a very
important rule in the application of this
kind of shoe will much better explain, ex-
cept in very advanced cases where the frog
is so thick as described, the success it
meets with in expanding the heels than the
pressure thereby sustained by the frog : we
allude to the distance which the nails are
driven from the quarters: a rulecstablished
under the idea of giving liberty to the f^x-
pansive power of the frog, which ic was
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. 175
thought could not produce the effect as-
signed to it if the nails were driven too
near the quarters, because the fixed state
of these parts would oppose it. That driv-
ing the nails near the quarters would pre-
vent their expansion, we have mentioned,
in a former page ; but this observation is
not in any degree connected with pressure
on the frog, for it will be soon seen, if
submitted to the test of experiment, that the
same precaution will be equally effectual in
preventing or retarding contraction, whether
a thick or thin heeled shoe be employed ;
whether the frog receives pressure or is per-
fectly free from it : the knowledge of this
circumstance, one should apprehend, will
have a considerable influence with those
who have hitherto employed the thin heeled
shoe ; for though this shoe, for the reason
before alluded to, prevents contraction be-
yond a certain extent^ it is not unknown
176
ON THE EFFECTS OF
that its use is frequently attended, after
a long journey or great exertion, on the
part of the animal, with a degree of stiff-
ness or tenderness which its owner is at a
loss to explain, but which may generally be
referred to the frequent and violent pres-
sure which the frog has sustained, or to the
greater force which is imposed on the flexor
tendon or back sinew, in consequence of
the disproportionate thickness of the toe
and heel of the shoe ; inconveniences from
which a shoe of equal thickness, in its
various parts, is perfectly free.
The foregoing observations have enabled
us to draw conclusions, which seem unfe-
vourable to the opinion alluded to, respect-
ing the functions of the frog ; and there are
numerous other circumstances, which an
anatomical detail would develope, tending to
prove, that its offices are materially different
*ritE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE, 177
from those assigned to it by Lafosse and
Mr. Coleman. Anatomical detail, however,
when extending to minutiae, will ever be
found dry and uninteresting ; and, as in a
work of this kind, an absolute necessity for
its introduction very frequently occurs, it
has been an object with us to avoid it as
much as possible where it can be dispensed
with with propriety. It is probable that
what has been already said on this matter
will be sufficient to enable the reader to
form an opinion respecting it: we may,
therefore, with propriety, dismiss it with-
out further comment. Wherever practice
and observation have succeeded in dis-
covering and exposing an erroneous theory,
they will, at the same time, generally be
found to afford one more sound and ra-
tional in its stead ; and such has been the
case in the present instance. It was evi-
dent that a part so importantly situated as
17S our TH£ EFFECTS OP
the frog, and so different in its mechanism
and structure from the other parts of the
foot, must have at least some office to per-
form t inquiry and experiment, therefore,
has done what theory could not accom-
plish ; has demonstrated that the frog per-
forms a very important part in that
extensive action of the quarters which
characterizes the natural foot.
We have already observed that the form-
ation of the frog resembles, in some degree^
that of an arch inverted. The truth of this
observation will be manifested on examina-^
tion of its inner surface, after the foot has
been drawn out from the hoof; the frog
stay is here observed dividing the general
concavity into two parts, which division,
howeverj is gradually lost as it approaches
the anterior part of the hoof, and the con-
cavity is found here extending completely
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 179
i-ound the point of this part : the frog stay,
it will be observed, is hollow, and its cavity
seen externally, i. e. the cleft of the frogj
admits of its sides separating from each
other in the expansion of the foot, and
thus contributes its share in making up
this action : a comparison of the two sur-
faces of the frog will show that without
the above part its arched figure would be
uninterrupted, but, as a perfect arch,
Would not admit of the necessary extent
of expansion, this fold of horn (for the
frog stay is precisely such) is introduced to
supply the deficiency, and there is no doubt
that the cleft of the frog in the natural foot
has a very extensive influence in its action.
The internal concavity of the frog is bounded
on its sides by a considerable projecting
eminence, formed by the union of the sides
of the frog and bars, and which has a cor-
responding channel or groove, observed.
N 2
180 ON THE EFFECTS OF
externally; the concavity continues ex-tend-
ing posteriorly to the heels, becoming more
superjScial at this part than at any other.
On viewing the frog externally, its base
seems to become united on each side to
the extremities of the quarters, and to
extend no farther than the base of these
parts ; such, however, is far from being
really the case, for the base of the frog on
each side the cleft becomes spread out-
wards, passes round, and envelopes the
posterior extremities of the quarters or
horny heels, is attached to their outer sur-
face, and is continued in the form of a
thin convex band, up to, and completely
round the coronet ; the quarters, therefore,
it will be observed, are enclosed and bound
down by this extension of the frog over
them, and cannot expand beyond a certain
extent dependent on the elasticity of this
THE APPLICATION OF
THE
SHOE.
181
part. That part of the base of the frog
which first passes over the quarters is ex-
ceedingly thick and strong, and of a width
sufficient to cover the upper half or more
of the height of the horny heels ; as it passes
towards the anterior part of the coronet,
however, it becomes gradually thinner and
narrower, and assumes the appearance of
a small band, and hence has obtained from
its discoverer, Mr. B. Clark, the name of
the cbronary frog band. The quarters, as
has been already observed, being thus con-
nected with the frog, must depend, for the
extent of their action, on the power which
this part possesses, of expanding laterally ;
and without this latter property of the
frog it would of course be entirely pre-,
vented.
As the action of the quarters is most
extensive at their posterior extremities, that
182
ON TIfE EFFECTS OF
of the frog will of course be the same 5
as its extent is gradually diminishing to-
wards the anterior part of the foot, that of
the action of the frog will be so likewise ;
^nd as the bars necessarily partake of the
action of the quarters, their close connexion
to the sides of the frog will be the cause of
its expansion here. The influence of the
quarters on the sides of the frog is therefore
through the medium of the bars, while the
quarters themselves act immediately on its
more posterior parts. The frog band is
observed to be considerably thicker and
wider in the natural than in the contracted
foot, and is found, in some which are far
advanced in contraction, to be entirely
wasted away. The explanation of this oc--
currence, which has been given, appears to
be satisfactory. It is probable, that as
the elasticity of the quarters is destroyed,
this part has nothing to perform; for it
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 18S
Will appear in the natural foot to contribute
materially, with the other parts, to restrain
expansion beyond a certain extent. *
* The existence of the frog band has been denied,
though we know not upon what grounds. Those
who, like ourselves, know its discoverer, would iiat,
however, be inclined to doubt his accuracy on this
point, even if the part was less easily demonstrable
than it is found to be. It maybe seen, with the greatest
facility, after the foot has been a short time exposed to
moisture, making an appearance, almost perfectly white ;
on black hoofs, its appearance will of course be more
distinct. It has also been said to be only the new formed
horn, but an accurate dissection will prove the fallacy of
this assertion. This is to be done by first macerating and
separating the hoof from the foot : the frog is then to
be removed from between the bars, and the line of
separation between the quarters and frog band will
become distinct, and is easily followed with the knife ;
when the band has been entirely removed, the parts,
which have'been said to be mistaken for it, will be found
under it: it has been said again, tliat its want of
;strength is an argument against the probability of its
184 ON THE EFFECTS OP
Having thus shown that the expansion of
the heels is dependent upon the yielding
elastic nature of the frog, it now only re-
mains to be observed, that the same poweris
the chief instrument in bringingthe foot into
its original state previous to expansion :
the impression of weight from above se^.
parates the heels, but lest this separatiori
should prove too extensive, the posterior
extremity of the frog is extended over the
quarters, and firmly attached, as before
described : the whole power of distention
having the office to perform which we have described.
It may, however, be unnecessary to remind our readers
how much its strength will be increased by being
spread as it is on a smooth surface, and firmly attached at
every part : its increased thickness and strength, where
it first passes upon the quarters, will also materially
strengthen our opinion of its offices ; for its increased
exertion here may be easily supposed to require an
addition of strength.
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. J85
is thus thrown upon the frog, which con-
sequently expands ; the foot being removed
from the ground the impression of ■vyeight
ceases, and the frog regains its original
state. To limit the expansion of the quar-
ters, therefore, and bj its elasticity to
yield gradually to it: by its contractile
power, also to bring the foot to its original
state when off the ground, and thus prepare
it again for expansion, is the office of the
frog; and not that of a wedge, to separate
the quarters.
It will be observed in the preceding
pages, that we have considered the ap-
phcation of the shoe as the real cause of
contraction; and it therefore becomes an
indispensable duty to state the circum-i
stances from which such an opinion has
been deduced. It is a subject, . however,
which, like almost the whole contents of
186
ON THE EFPECTS OP
this chapter, has been already the task ot*
abler hands ; and none of which we should
on that account have spoken of, were it
not necessary to the system, which it is a
professed object of this work to observe :
we entered on, and still pursue it with
diffidence; and while we acknowledge,
with the profession at large, the import-
ance of the obligation the author alluded
to has laid us under, we solicit the most
liberal construction which our observations
will admit of: we are anxious to place, what
we conceive to be truth, in the most fa-
vonrable point of view. If, however, fur-
ther research should prove any thing we
tave said to be incorrect, we shall at least
be open to conviction, and willingly to aca
knowledge our error,
If the nature of the action of the quar-
ters be fully understood, it will not be
V
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 18'?'
difficult to explain the influence which the
shoe has on the parts. It has been very
properly observed, that the term shoe, as
apphed to the iron which is nailed to the
foot, seems to convey an erroneous idea of
its properties ; and it certainly serves to
conceal its real character, by reminding
us of the coiTiforts we derive from that
necessary article of apparel among our-f
selves. Viewing it as protecting the foo^
solely, it may appear to - have some claim
to the title, but if we consider it in its
true light, that of an inflexible iron ring,
unyielding to, and consequently preventing
the natural action of the quarters, all re^
semblance is lost.
It may be here necessary to recal the
-attention of our readers to the comparison
of the action of the quarters to that of a
hQW : this action being most extensive at
188 ON THE EFFFX'TS OF
the extremity of the quarters, and gra-
dually diminishing towards their anterior
parts, it will be obvious that the driving
the nails into the hoof to fix the shoe, will
prevent any expansion anterior to the
last nail which is used : it will also very
materially oppose it, even more posteriorly:
the degree of restraint imposed will there-
fore depend on the distance between the
last nail and extremity of the quarter, and
at whatever distance this may be, the foot
must become accommodated to it, and
have lost a proportionate degree of its
elasticity previous to the renewal of th^
shoe,
, It will be observed, that the shoe is
necessarily applied to the foot, when off
the ground, and consequently in its most
contracted state : the first, therefore, which
is used, makes at once a considerable pro-
4f-
THE APPLICATION OP THE SHOE. 1B§
gress in the contraction ; for, so long as it
remains, it prevents the expansion of the
quarters when brought in contact with the
ground; -and at the end of a month, the
usual time of its remaining, has in fact
moulded the foot, as it were, to its own
figure. We have already remarked, that
the hoof expands in its growth, so that its
base becomes wider in diameter as it grows
more distant from the coronet. It will be
readily seen, therefore, that the shoe, fixed
as it is by nails to its base, retains this ex-
pansion ; the hoof continues to grow, but
as it is not permitted to expand propor-.
tionately to its growth, the softer and
more yielding part of it must become al-
tered in figure : the constriction is com-
municated through the medium of the wall
of the hoof to the coronet, and the newly
formed horn, yielding to its influence, as-
sumes the appearance of an indented ring,
ON THE EFFECTS 0^
which gradually comes down in the
growth of the hoof, and remains distinct
till removed by the knife. Every successive
set of shoes continue this effect, each in-
dentation being more or less broad, ac-
cording to the length of time which the..
shoe producing it remains ; and hence arises
that irregular appearance of the hoofs of
shod horses, which has given rise to the
idea of its being formed of a succession of
rings of horn, from the coronet to the toe j
the indentations will always be observed
becoming more distinct towards the lattei*
end of the month, each being deeper in a
trifling degree than the preceding; and
thus, by the time the original indentation
or ring grows down to the base of the
foot, the hoof is brought into near ap-
proximation with the coffin-bone at every
part, and the quarters nearer to each other.
When the coffin-bone becomes firmly com-
'THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. iQt
pressed, an absorption of its sides begins
to take place ; but this process is so slowj
as to be attended with no very manifest
marks externall}^, by which it may be
known to be going on; the quarters, how-
ever, still continue contracting with the
repetition Of the shoe, till at length lame^
ness is produced, and a remedy is sought
for in vain.
A practice, very frequently pursued,
"Vvith the delusive idea of expanding the
quarters, seems to need our attention here.
It consists of an extensive removal of the
horn of the quarters, at its most posterior
part, where it becomes inflected ; a very
considerable portion of the angle thus
formed, being taken away with some por-
tions of the frog, an appearance of width
is given to the parts, attended, however,
with no advantage, but tending very ma-
ON tHE EFFECTS OF
terially to bring on that utter destruction
of the internal organization of the foot,
which is the subject of the following chap-
ter. This operation is well known among
farriers by the familiar appellation of
" throwing open the heels/' It will be
obvious, however, that nothing of what
the term seems to imply is effected by it ;
for the heels are not more distant from
each other than previous to its being per-
formed.
All other attempts which have been
hitherto made to remedy this evil, or to'
prevent its occurrence, have been equally
futile. The barbarous practice of " scoring
the hoof," as it is termed, appears also to
demand notice, on account of its singu-
larity : a number of perpendicular grooves
are made through the substance of the
hoof, nearly to the sensitive parts, though
tSJS APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 193
Slot su-fficicutly deep to produce bleeding.
The number of these grooves, and the si*
tuation in which thej are made, are dis-
cretional circumstances only: one at the
anterior part, and the same in each quarter,
is the smallest extent to which the plan is
carried ; and we once saw a case where
double this number was thought only suf- ^
ficient. Some have been content, however,
with rasping the quarters, and the making
one groove only in the anterior part of the
hoof.
The " screw shoe" may not be an object
entirely destitute of interest, as it serves
to show how httle the treatment of the
foot has, till within these few years, at-
tracted the attention of men of science,
and to what lengths ignorance will go if
unrestrained by authority. To be brief in
the description of this instrument of tor-
O
194
ON THE EFFECTS OF
ture; for the enlightened point of view in
which almost every thing connected with
the foot of the horse is now placed, in-
duces us to look with a mixture of horror
and contempt on inventions of this kind ;
it consTsts of a shoe of the common shape,
furnished with a joint at the toe : the nails
are driven in the usual places ; the heels
are turned up, and have perforations in
them to receive the screw, by the turning
of which the heels can be forcibly separated
from each other at pleasure.*
All these practices are now, fortunately
* The practice of drawing the sole was probably
followed as a remedy for the lameness attendant on
contraction, even before the cause of such lameness was
known. It consists of the formation of a groove with
the knife, between the base of the wall and edge of the
sole, the latter part is then laid hold of with the pincers
and forcibly torn from its attachments I
THE APPLICATION- OF THE SHOE. 195
for the animal, on the decline ; and as
the propagation of knowledge on this
point must become gi'adually more exten-
sive, we may hope eventually to see them
entirely given up. It will be seen that the
influence of them all will be to weaken the
quarters, and take away the support which
they previously gave to the bones of the
foot, thus preventing their descent; for
though the quartei-s may be ever so much
dilated or expanded, they do not obtain
their original elasticity from them, nor are
they found to remedy the tenderness or
lameness which existed previous to their
trial.
It is a matter of regret that this de-
structive change admits of no real or per-
manent benefit. If we could give to the
quarters their original share of elasticity ;
o2
196 ON THE EFPECTS Ot
if the elastic functions of the frog could he
restored, and the coffin-bone be made to
resume its original state, we might hope
for success ; but it will be obvious, that tha
expansion of the heels, by the means al-
luded to, effects none of these objects ; and
we are therefore warranted in the con-
clusion, that contraction, with its attendant
lameness, admits of no relief-
It may be asked, if no alteration of the
shoe at present most commonly used, or any
of the different principles of shoeing, as they
have been erroneously called, of different
persons, are capable of preventing it ? With-
out being influenced by any consideration
but that of truth, we can venture to assert
our firm belief of the negative. What have
been at various times produced as different
principles of shoeing, all agree in that which
is productive of contraction : they are all
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 197
mflexibk iron rings, equally restraining the
action of the quarters, and tending, in the
before-described manner, to contract the
hoof in its growth. We know that the
brightest talents and most laborious in-
vestigation have been employed to find a
substitute for the iron shoe, hitherto at
least, without effect ; nor is it probable that-
success will ever crdwii the attempt:' it;
does not appear that the animal or ve-^^
getable kingdom affords a substance, which^
if nailed to the bottom of the foot, will at
once yield to its action, and afford it a
sufficient protection > and, without these
combined, we must be content to follow
our old plan, and bear with evils which
we cannot reniove.
Though no plan with which we are
yet acquainted is capable of preventing
Contractionj or of removing it, there is
398 ON THE EFTECTS OF
one caution which we have aheady had
occasion to mention, the observance of
which will materially retard its progress,
or even prevent its occurrence beyond a
certain extent. We allude to the distance
which the nails are driven from the posterior
extremity of the quarters. Upon the de-
gree of attention paid to this rule depends,
as far as we have been able to judge, the
chief difference between good and bad
shoeing, setting aside the more trivial
, circumstances of the weight of the shoe,
its adaptation to the foot, &c. That con-
traction of the more anterior parts of the
quarters will ever be produced by the iron
shoe seems obvious, but it is to be re-
collected that such cannot go on longer,
except very slowly, than the hoof is brought
to compress pretty firmly the coffin-bone ;
for after this period its progress wi^ll be
scarcely perceptible on external observa-
THE APPLICATION OF THE SHOE. 199
tioii of the foot, though it certainly does
not entirely cease. After it has arrived
at this state, then, no part but the posterior
extremity of the quarter will continue its
alteration ; let but the nails be driven suf-
ficiently distant, however, and even this
will cease ; and thpugh the action.of the
quarters is almost entirely destroyed by
the first use of the shoe^ still we shall be
enab]e4 to, prevent that excessive contrac-
lion which is in the end productive of
lameness, and a condemnation of the ani^
..... .
mal to a change of inastersj with its at-
tending consequences, cruelty and ill treat-
ment; the observation of such a rule is
therefore not only as regards our interest,
but, in a moral point of view, of the utmost
importance.
With regard to the precise point into
which the last nail may be driven, to pre-
200 ON THE EFFECTS, ScC.
Tcnt the increase of contraction, no rule
can be laid down ; much will depend on
the manner in which the foot is prepared r
if the shoe is equally in contact with-every
part of the base of the wall to which it is
nailed, no danger will arise of the imposi«
tion of the weight on the toe acting as a
lever to draw the posterior nails, and in
such a case we may apply this rule to its
greatest extent. To compensate for the
small space which we are thus allowed for
driving the nails, these may with advan-
tage be made smaller, and driven more
closely to each other.
ON FOUNDER.
CHAP. VIIL
ON POUNDER.
The alteration which the foot under4^
goes, from the use of the shoe, has beeh'
detailed in the preceding chapter, and the
usual methods which are resorted to for -
the restoration of it to its original state,-
their effects have also been alluded to /'
and it will be the object of this to point '
them out more distinctly.
The displacement of the internal parts
of the foot taking place in the affection,
termed Foimder, is demonstrated by its
ON POUXDER.
external appearances, which arc so ex-
tremely common and well known as to
enable the most superficial observer to as-
certain its existence, though we believe
that hitherto they have not very extensively
served such a purpose. The first of these,
the descent or convexity of the sole, has
obtained the name of the potn foot, and
given occasion for much critical distinction
in the application of the shoe. The second,
and never-failing attendant of the former^
is the altered relative position of the foot
with respect to the leg, as in the pom foot
the angle between the bones of the leg
and anterior part of the hoof becomes con-r
siderably more acute, though in fact the
bones internally retain nearly their original
position with respect to each other.
In no subject which concerns the ve-
terinary science could the interest of that
ON FOUNDER. 203
science be better served than in the study
of the morbid anatomy of the foot : the
affection of which we are now speaking-
leads us to this observation ; for had its
nature and causes been discovered a cen^
tury since, the memory only, of the screw
shoe, the scoring the hoof, an^ turning the
horse out to grass as a remedy for con-
traction, would have remained ; and it is
to be hoped that the discoveries which this
age has produced will baffle the attempts
of prejudice to prevent their naore exten-
sive knowledge, when such practices, with
all the sophistry by which their support has
been attempted, will be consigned to utter
obhvion.
The circumstances in which the foun«
dered or pom foot differs from the natural
aijd healthy one, and which are plainly
shown in a perpendicular section, are as
204 ON FOUNDER,
follow. The coffin-bone, instead of having
its external surface regularly attached to,
and at an equal distance in every part
from the inner surface of the hoof, has
what may be termed its toe, in some cases,
more than an inch and a half from the
corresponding part of the hoof, the inter-
mediate space by which it should have been
occupied, being filled up by a substance
which h^s been considered of a corneo-ear-
iilaginous nature, probably produced by the
gradual elongation of the lamellae which
attach the bone to the hoof. The point
or toe of the coffin-bone is, at the same
time, pressing on the sole, and causing the
projection alluded to, while its under sur-
face continues the pressure posteriorly, a^
far as the sensitive frog.
Such are the general appearances mani-
fested on the ^examination of foundered
ON FOUNDER. 205
feet, varying, however, very mucli in de-
cree, from a scardely visible alteration, to
one more extensive than that we have
described, the extent of projection of the
sole bearing of course a proportionate al-
teration in appearance. There are how-
ever, differences from the natural state
produced by the same cause, where the
relative position of parts is changed in
the opposite direction : the point of the
coffin-bone, in such cases, is something
elevated from its natural position, while
the posterior part, or heel, is considerably
depressed ; its anterior surface is closely
embraced by the hoof, while a more than
usual concavity of the sole brings that
part in close contact with its under sur-
face: all the internal parts, therefore, seem
to be more closely compressed by those
enclosing them than in the natural state ;
and so far the contraction solely might
/
206
ON FOUNDEK.
have been supposed to be the cause ; but
contraction, existing to such a degree as to
affect the anterior and lateral parts of the
foot, in the way we have described, would
also have tended to raise the heel of the
coffin-bone rather than depress it: the
depressed state of that part, therefore, is
to be considered the effect of some attempt
which has been made to relieve the con-
traction by separating the heels, the poste-
rior parts of the foot being thus weakened,
while the sole at the anterior part retained
more than its original strength, naturally
yielded most readily, and thus the heel of
the coffin-bone was suffered to sink, while
its anterioi' part retained the position in
which it had been left by the'contraction.
It will be sufficiently obvious why at-
tempts to relieve the animal from the
constant tenderness and lameness of con-
ON FOUNDER.
' traction, are productive of founder, if we
consider, that in contraction the coffin-bone
internally, as well as the soft parts lying
under its heel, are closely surrounded and
compressed by the hoof, and that the slow
progress of contraction allows of the soft
parts, and even the coffin-bone itself in a
very considerable degree, accommodating
themselvqs to it by their gradual absorp-
tion in consequence of pressure ; the parts
are therefore to be considered in contrac-
tion as mechanically adapted to each other,
•every part of the concavity of the hoof and
sole being completely filled up : it must
consequently be evident, that the separation
of the heels would create a vacancy in
some part which would be filled up by the
falling of the coffin-bone, or at least render
them more hollow and incapable of resist-
ance, and thus take away the support
which, in their contracted state, they af-
ON FOUNDER.
ford to the superincumbent parts : conse-
quently, in either case, the heel of the
coffin-bone would sink from the usual im-
pression of weight from above. Thus it is
that the common method of removing the
shoes, and turning the animal out to grass,
always fails to relieve the lameness of
contraction, and so often is found to have
produced a convex sole.
We are inclined to believe^ that those
cases of founder, in which the toe of the
coffin-bone only causes the sole to protrude,
are produced more commonly by the bar-
barous practice of scoring the hoof, as this
operation gives at once equal liberty to all
the parts to descend in an equal degree,
whereas in rasping the quarters or removing
shoes, the support is only removed from the
posterior part, and the strong attachment
of the bone to the inner surface of the an-
ON FOUNDER; 209
terior part of the hoof preventing its
descent : hence the posterior part only be-
comes depressed, and the change here is
consequently most distinct*
It were improper to pass over, without
further notice than that we have already
taken, of the too common practice of
turning the horse out to grass without
shoes. The animal is not perhaps so treated
in the generality of cases for the express
purpose of widening the feet, but with a
vague idea of invigorating the constitution ;
and as those who have the management
of these matters think two good purposes
may be as well effected as one, they re-
move the shoe in order to allow of the
expansion of the foot. It would be to the
interest of the owners of such horses,
however, to reflect on the danger incurred
by such-a practice of bringing on Founder.
It is highly improbable, that if the horse,
p
210
ON FOUNDER.
for some time previous, has becH accus-
tomed to the shoe, some decree of con-
traction of the qnarters has not taken
place, and therefore the removal of the
shoe allows of their regaining their original
position, though not their elasticity, and
removes the support which the altered state
of the parts from contraction renders ne-
cessary. We say, the parts do not regain
their elas-tic properties by expansion ef-
fected in this way, however great may be
its degree. The change effected by it,
therefore, is simply the substitution of a
weak and uncertain foundation of the foot
for one which, with all its faults, would
effectually have prevented the occurrence
of Founder, which is endangered by thus?
exposing the foot.
It will appear, from the foregoing ob-
servation, that after the foot has^ been a
long time shod, and undergone the usual
ON FOUNDER.
211
share of contraction, the removal of the
shoe would probably be attended with the
serious consequences already spoken of ;
for after it has so totally destroyed the
elasticity of the quarters, as happens iti
the advanced stage of contraction^ the
continuance of its application becomes ab-
solutely necessary, in order to prevent a
descent of the coffin-bone, and consequent
convexity of the sole.
Considering the close attachment exists
ing between the internal surface of the
hoof and coffin-bone, through the medium
of the lamellae, it is evident that these
latter parts must become elongated or the
hoof drawn down by the descent of the
bone : supposing the hoof to be drawn
down without any elongation of the lamellae,
the appearance externally will be that
described near the commenceinent of this
p 2
213
subject; the angle between the leg and
anterior part of the hoof becomes consi-
^derably more acute. On the other hand,
if the lamellae elongate only partially,
while some portion of them remain per-
fectly unyielding, the hoof at these latter
parts must give way, and an irregular in-
curvation of it will be the result ; a state
which is not uncommonly observed in old
horses, whose lives have been spent in the
service of a succession of masters, and who,
consequently, have been much exposed to
improper treatment.
The observation of the hoof not only
shows the existence of this affection, but
also generally affords means of ascertain-
ing, pretty exactly, the degree of displace-
ment of the internal parts : as its position
with respect to the leg, will be propor-
tionately more or less widely differing from
ON POUNDEE. 213
that of nature according to such degree.
If, therefore, it has not attained such an
extent, as to make anv great alteration in
the sole, and thus be deficient of the most
positive proof of its existence, still a re-
ference to the angle, between the hoof
and leg, will enable us to ascertain the oc-^
currence, even of a very simple deviation
from the natural state. The degree of dis^
placement, which is thought inconsistent
with the performance of the work of the
animal, is marked by an excessive con^
vexity, with a general extremely thin statQ
pf the sole ; such circumstances preventing
the use of the shoe, unless made sp ex-,
tremely thick as tp be tpp heavy for thq
^nimal to sustain. Jn onq of such cases as
have come under oux observation, aftei»
death, the toe of the coffin-bone >vas e:3C-%
posed and in a diseased state,
214 ON FOUNDER.
Besides the marks of Founder manifested
on examination of the foot, there are others
which appear in th.'i action of the animal,
and which, though not of themselves suffi-
cient to enable us to decide on its existence,
still combined with the before-mentioned,
will materially contribute to eradicate any
doubts which may exist on the subject. The
first of these is a perpetual nodding motion
of the head in moving along, more parti-
cularly observable in a gentle trot : in the
next place, the animal appears to impose
the whole of the weight on the heels ; pro-
bably unavoidably so ; for the state of the
foot is such as to leave the toe turned up,
as it were in front, when the weight rests
on the fore-quarters, and consequently the
heels only are in close contact with the
ground.
With respect to the first of these symp*
2
ON FOUNDER
215
toms, it seems to be solely the effect of the
disturbed state of the foot ; for as the ani-
mal has to bring the heels in contact with
the ground before he can renew the step,
and as the fallen state of the parts certainly
shortens the limb, so also their alteration
prevents his using his toe : the transference
of the weight to the heels is consequently
rapid and sudden, and the fall of the fore-
quarters, before the resistance is felt, being
greater, for the reason above alluded to,
the nodding appearance is thus unavoidably
produced.
The convex state of the sole of the cart-
horse is not to be accounted for in the
before-described manner, but is to be con-
sidered the gradual effect of the great
exertion to which they_ are subject, and the
consequently greater imposition of weight
on the bones of the foot. It does not.
ON FOUNDER.
however, appear very probable, that this
circumstance, individually, would be a
sufficient explanation of its occurrence,
had nothing previously happened to weaken
the sole and quarters, and hence the great
destruction of the horn of those parts in some
of the diseases of which we have spoken, as
Canker, Sandcrack, &c. may be supposed
to have a considerable share in exposing
the animal to the danger of its occurrence ;
for it will be readily seen, that the very
considerable time necessary for the repro--
duction pf horn of original strength, will
prevent its being retained in the stable till
such an effect is fully produced : great
exertions, therefore, under such circum^
stances, would be very likely to bring on
a descent of the sole.
We have somewhere read some vague
and unsatisfactory accounts of the pro-
\
ON FOUNDER, 217
Auction of Founder, from mortification of
the vascular parts within the hoof, but can-.
not assert that such a case has ever come
under oi:ir observation: supposing, how-
ever, that mortification could be produced
to so great an extent as to separate the
hoof, at every part, from the coffin-bone,
Founder, or the falling off of the hoof, would
be the result ; but the occurrence of such
^ circumstance is extremely rare.*"
With respect to the application of the
shoe to the convex foot, little need be ob^
* One pr two instances of this kind have been pub^
lished, but they do not seem to be well authenticated :
we are told, however, that in the celebrated" march of
Hannibal, through the marshes of Etruria, the hoof^
of the horses came off; but the cause of this wiUb&
^eea to be of no common occurrenceo
218
ON FOUNDER.
served. It will be at once obvious that
the deformity renders it impossible to
employ one of a common description ; and
a question seems to have arisen, whether
a narrow and sufficiently thick one, to raise
the sole a proper height from the ground,
is not preferable to that' which has hitherto
been most commonly used. The under
surface of the latter is necessarily formed
more or less convex, proportionate to the
degree of convexity of the sole^ while it
is as necessarily concave on its opposite,
in order to avoid pressure on that part.
The wearing part of the shoe, formed in
this way, would therefore be its inner edge ;
and hence has been said to arise one of its
principal objections. Another, however,
and, if just, a more important one, is, that
the thin state of the sole exposes it to in-
jury from the collection of gravel or dirt,
which this formation of the shoe is supposed
ON FOUNDER. 219
to favour; but we believe all who have
had extensive opportunities of observing
this method of shoeing, will think us
justified in the assertion, that inconvenience
is rarely felt from such an occurrence.
The great weight of shoes of the abova
kind, we are inclined to believe, is the only
reasonable objection to their use ; but even
this is perhaps not apphcable when used
for heavy draught horses : if, however, it
existed to its fullest extent, it would be
more than counterbalanced by the pro^
tection which their broad surfaces give to
the sole.
The introduction of an}'^ improved me-
thod of practice, in any particular subject
connected with the veterinary science, will
always meet with obstacles, as by far the
greater number of those who practice it
220
ON FOUNDER.
are regulated by the customs of their fore-
fathers, and will generally be found to
value an old recipe, handed down from one
generation to another, beyond all the im-
provements which science can afford. The
proposition of an improvement, then, to the
class of men to whom the province of
shoeing more immediately belongs, must
be seconded by arguments at once clear
and convincing, in order to have their full
effect j and certainly by arguments infinitely
stronger than those adduced in support of
the narrow shoe, in opposition to that at
present most commonly employed.
It will be sufficient for the reader to
picture to his imagination the wide con^
vex foot of the cart horse, with a shoe at-,
tached to it of only the breadth of the wall,
or, as it is more commonly termed, c?'ust,
9Xid to consider the nature of the work
ON FOUNDER* 221
^vhich such animals have to perform, to
obtain an idea of its merits. It will be at
once obvious, that the unprotected state of
the sole will frequently expose it to pres-
sure ; and if the horse is employed on the
stones of London, or any irregular ground^
scarce a step can be taken where the sole
will not receive it : the tender state of this
part, therefore, in foundered feet, and the
consideration of the great exertion which
the draught horse is under the necessity of
making, and the consequently great de^
gree of pressure the sole must receive in
such cases, will be objections which the
narrow shoe never can surmount.
The same observations apply, though
not perhaps in an equal degree, to the ap-
pUcation of the narrow shoe to the convex
foot of the saddle horse ; and we apprehend
222
ON rOUNDER.
that they will naturally suggest themselves
to the minds of all who make this matter
the subject of their consideration.
An altered appearance of the chest of
animals subject to this disease has been
noticed by some veterinary writers, and
obtains the name of " Founder of the
Chest the confused method in which it
is spoken of, renders it difficult to under-
stand precisely the nature of their ideas
respecting it. It appears, however, that
some affected to consider it an inflamma-
tion of the pleura; and hence blisters were
recommended as a method of cure. It is
now, however, pretty well known, that this
formidable disease is nothing more than the
habitual contraction of the muscles of the
part, the object of which is to remove the
weight as much as possible from the fore-
ON FOUNDEIl.
feet; a measure which the poor animal
resorts to in order to alleviate his pain ;
and hence, few horses, whose heels are
contracted, or whose feet, in fact, are in
any other way diseased, are to be seen
without some appearance of this habit.
After the above description, it would be
absurd to talk of a remedy ; for as long as
the animal feels pain in the feet, no al-
teration can ever be produced. Any at-
tempts to alter the state of the foot must
also be equally futile. The observation
may by some perhaps be considered super-
fluous ; but the natural disposition in the
human mind to profit by discovery might
possibly have made it hereafter the sub-
ject of experiment ; and as such experi-
ments are, as in the cases of contraction,
attended with an useless infliction of pain
^7
^24 ON FOUNDER*
We shall deem no apology necessary, if^
in a single instance, it may have eontri*
feuted to protect the animal from such an
attempt.
ERRATA.
Page 1 1 , line 1 0 and 1 1, for as a general rule read as general rules.
189, 12, for retains read restrains.
*- — 130, 3, for occular read ocular.
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