Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-06-10
Injuries to the IKOrsc.s Foot.

The sensitive structures Of the foo
are exposed to many injuries, ard {
frequent cause of such is the foo
coming in violent contact with &
sharp stone or other hard substance
Another common cause is an undue
or irregular pressure of the shoe
either upon the heels or other part.
Q: the sole. Injury from the las
mentioned cause is most likely to be
produced in horses with fat feet
because the shoe in many cases bears
upon the sole as well as upon the
wall Of the foot, and very soon pro-
duces a bruise Of the sensitive struc
lures, if the horse is driven unon 6
hard road. In the Winter season
when travelling upon snow, at farm
work in other seasons, horses are moi
30 liable to bruises from imprope,
shoeing. Bnt it is different when
they are subjected to a journey upon
macadamised roads-a rapid drive OF
few miles frequently producing a
very severe inury. 70 protect the
sole in horses with fat feet the shoe
should be properly seated, so as to
bear upon the wall. and rendered
concave toward its upper and inner
circumference, so as to prevent any
pressure whatever upon the sole.
The symptoms Of bruises are more
or less tenderness when the horse is
travelling, which ls greatly increased
when he treads upon hard ground.
When standing lie inclines TO point
the foot. There is also an increase
III the temperature Of the foot. which
can be readily detected by applying
the hand above the coronct. The
arteries leading to the foot are throb-
hing, and the general heat OF the
lilnb Is increased. Where the injury
is severe, the symptoms enumerated
are of IA more aggravated character,
and The lntlammat"ry action set up
frequently terminates III supuuration
or the formation OF matter within the
foot.
In any part of the body the process
of suppuration is attended with great
pain, but it is much greater when
suppuratlon occurs within the foot,
owing to the soft tissues being coy
cred by such a hard and resisting
structure as the hoof Therefore the
symptoms of suppuration in the foot
are very well marked indeed. There
is great lsmeness, heat and frequently
knuckling at the tetlocE joint, pro-
duced by the animal endeavoring to
lake the weight of his foot. In some
cases, also, swelling of the limb
will tccur. resulting from the extreme
irritation produced in the foot. II
the foot is gently tapped with a ham
,uer, the horse at oDce evinces pain,
and the precise spot may often be
detected by nsing the piucers. Bru.
Uses are generally confined to the t,,e
tect.
Although bruises are easily de.
tec,ed by professional man, by the
common observer or ipcompeten,
practitioner. they are frequently over,
looked, and give rise TO very serious
results, often terminating IL permau.
ent lameness. When matter forms,
if not given n free and dependen,
exit, it must necessarily find it's way
TO the nearest soft tissues, a swelling
appears on the coronet, which be-
comes soft and fuctuating, and finally
breaks and discharges matter. An
examination will show one or more
sinuses within the foot, and all pro.
>.nced simply from bruse. In other
cases bruises may cause iamini,is or
nayicular disease, rendering horse