The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-03-05

LAMESEss ~ lloRsEs PROM lNyupicious
MANAGEMENT on THEIR FEEr.-1hat lame
ness in horses especially IN their feet, is very
frequently the result Of improper modes Of
shocing and Of injudicious management gem
orally, we have frequently affirmed and insist
cd upop in thia department Of our journal
As thorough persuasion Of the truth Of this
proposition 10 an indispensable prerequisite
10 reform in this particular, VIC GLADLY avail
ourselves Of the opportunity Of giving it some
confirmation by few quotations from a elm
iea lecture delivered at the New Veterinary
School, Edinburg, in January last, 10y Prof
Gume~S~. whose high qualifications and an.
thority in matters oil this kind, are well
known in his own country, and also to not a
few on this side % the Atlantic. AfIcr Civ
ing the history Of several eases Of lamcness
about which he had been professionally con-
suited, he concludes his lecture by informing
his students that the cases he had roeitcd
teach such lessons as tho following;
LIST. THAT the common practice OF weak
cnng tho horny covering OF the very vascular
and sensitive structures Of tie horses foot is
u fruitful source Of irritation and pain, and
consequently Of lnmeness. The methods
adopted, which weaken the feet are chiefly
rasping the crust or wall of the hoof and
pairing the sole excessively. Most frequent
!y the toe is shortened, so that the nails must
be driven high in order to hold sufficiently
to preserve the shoe in position. The deep
seated horn is soft and elastic, so that the
iron nails press injuriously against the sensi-
tive tissues, aud soreness and absolute pain
must result. l can not sufficiently condemn
the practice Of pairing the soles thin in cases
Of lsmeness. This is done with the object
of relieving the subjAeeut Tissues, but on
false principle, inasInuch as, If the natural
growth OF horn be favored, there is n deep
LAYER of soft material in contact with the vas.
cular textures; but when the sole is pared
thin, the thin layer speedily dries, and the
result is exactly opposite to that which the
unreHecting practitioner anticipates"
The remaining lessons or conclusions de-
rived from the cases detailed by Prof. c., we
will now give in q somewhat condensed
form.
I'd When farriers are not properly super
intended, they very apt to try and do
clean work, and in doing so they cut and re-
move horn from where il should remain
Ignorant farrers produce ameness also in
another way, Not considering that the man
ner in which the foot bears upon the ground
determines the position of the joints Of the
limb, they work away at random, and often
lay the foundation of deformiiy and eventual
lameness. a case is here referred TO, in
which the inner quarter Of the hoof Of a fore
foot was found much cut ayay--the cutting
having been in the course OF time repeated
frequently--to prevent what is called cutting
or interfering Tho foot bad become lowered
on the inside from the cutting away of the
wall and Of the horny sole--waa tender to
the touch, aud above the heels and frog the
tissues were quite puffy and sensitive. This
cutting away Of the inner quarter of the hoof
the narrowing of the shoe, and favoring It's
displacement toward the outer part Of the
hoof, when long continued, throws the ami
NAL out OF his RatBisl belanee, and not only !
contributes 10 make him lame, but IS ulti. !