Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-10-27
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DTsEAsE OF uORsEs, FEET.

On "a DISEASE OF HORSES' FEEH' laa
H. s. Copeman, Veterinary Surgeons
Utica, New York, correspondent OF the Al
bany Cxlfioator, says; b 80 adq i
With your permission I wish to present
the readers of your valuable journal with
few remarks on disease of horses feet,
which, has been unusually prevalent during
the last spring and summer. The disorder
we are about to consider is known among
"veterinarians" by the technical term navi-
cular Thrills, or navicular lameness.
The cause most fertile in the production
Of, this disease is prolonged rest in the sta
bic, the high temperature of the stable in
duclng drying of the hoof, and absorption
Of The sensitive, fatty frog; the horny part
contracts, the sole becomes hard, thick, and
concave; and if to these be added circum-
stances which still further favor the drying
of the hoof, as the late long continued
drought, in many cases the elevation OF
the sole becomes permanent. If the horse
is now taken out and called upon to per-
form severe exertion, his feet being highly
predisposed, are very liable to become the
seat of inflammatory action, either in an
acute or chronic character.
To occasional causes, belong galloping
upon rough, uneven ground, sudden springs,
during hard trot, false steps in which the
toes have TO support an unusual amount OF
weight until the heels can reach the ground.
II is stated by Youatt, that Prof Coleman
usedto say with regard to shoeing, there
were only two principles to be impressed
upon the mind. "lst, The frog must re-
ceive pressure; 2nd, The sole must not"
In fact believe at the present day it is
generally admitted as an established truth,
that certain degree of pressure to the frog
is necessary, in order to keep it in state Of
health; yet in the face of all this, we find
more than one half our best horses shod
with "calkins," which not only prevent
pressure upon The frog, but give unsteadi-
ness to the horses action. Even in going
down hill they place the limb in anything
but a favorable position they prop up the
heels, and give the fetlock joint forward
inclination, and throw nearly the whole
weight upon the toe of the foot. The
symptoms which indicate nayicular lame
ness, are a short, cautious step, most of the
weight being thrown upon the toe, both in
the stable and upon the road. Generally
the horse walks but little lame, although
very much SO in trot. The sole of the
foot is unusually concave, and the cleft:
are often very deep.
The treatment of course must vary with
the stage and state in which we find the
foot. In recent case, after removing the
shoe, pare the sole and rasp the crust thr
at both quarters of the hooi, 10 diminish The
pressure on the internal parts Of the foot al
much as possible, and then wrap the whole
foot in cloths soaked in cold water, or in ar
ample poultice of bran or lnseed meal
kept constantly moist with cold water
The poultice must be renewed once ir
twelve hours. Next a blister, taking in
the whole of the pastern and coronet, may
be tried and when the heels and quarter.
Gf they We're reduced by the rasp, &C.,
are sufficiently strong, a spring or thcl
heeled shoe without calkins) should be
carefully tackled on to the foot. This with
a piece of felt or leather placed between
the shoe and the crust, will las much as pos.
sible) keep the injured part in state of re-
pose. The sole of the foot should be GOV
cred occasionally with tar and salt. l
sand collects under the leather it phe leath.
er) must be cut out close to the inner rim
of the shoe. II. S. CoPEMAM, V. S.-Utaca
New York.