Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-30
Hard, or Contracted Feet, in the
Horse.

Please inform me what shall do for n
horses feet that have become dry and
hard. so that the horse is lame in conso-
dueuce of it. rs suppose. have tried
bathing the feet in water, frequently, this
summer, and thought was takig great
deal of pains To keep the feet moist. |
have even stuffed them with green COW
manure; but al the things that | have
tried DO not scent DO any good. have
no books that treat upon such \ subject
wherein can get any information.
l. there not some kind of ointment in
your knowledge that would be of value
in such a case, to keep the feet in moist
state after having been soaked out?
Would not urine and salt mixed together,
be good wash L. soften them? | wish
10 try some remedy different from what
| have tried Yet. Please inform me
through tie columns of the New England
Farmer. and by SO doing you will ohlisca
SUBSCRIBER.
TuHtoa. Mass, oct. 2Slh, 1870,
Remarks Tho condition in which you
describe your horses feet is not an uncom
mon one, and yet the cause and cure are,
10 most OF US, Shroudel in mystery. y
fun third OF all the horses We notice,
point with the fore foot; that i, when
stopping on the road, or in their stalls.
they reach out tie lore foot and allow il
to rest slightly on the toe. Frequently
both feet are affected. and then the sui
tcrinG animal changes every five OF ten
minutes, from one foo, TO the o her. seem
iugly unwilling to bear his weight ON
either foot. and would not if he could
avoid it, In such eases. the foot i thrown
out OF use. except when the horse is in
actual motion. and would naturally lie
crease in size. a. the human arm would
il held ina sling for an extended time.
~ The horses loot. spared in travelling
and pointed in the stable. obviously
changes is shape The quarters draw
inward the heels narrow; the frog
burdens and decreases the sole thickcnS
and hvishicn> The crust becomes marked
by veins and grows considerably higher
In fact. the too, from being an open,
healthy foot, becomes contracted or
diseased member.
To .av. therefore, wha, ough; to be
done for horses feet that are dry and
h1rj. one ouShl To know what causes
such iyUcs> and hardness; and this j.,
frequently quite difficult to ascertain. .
|, may DC occ,>ioned by too much pres
sure un the frog. by 4 strain, or hy step
PING ON a stone or other hard substance. .
l-m,rtycliirg the toe OF the shoe be
comes much more worn than the rest of
II. &, indicates that the tendon which
covers rs, portion Of tho na,icular bone
lyin, at The inner corner ofjhe coffin bone
has become injured, aud oSsidcalion
has taken place tina; i, 4 sponSe-likc APP
pearancc of The tendon II then becomes
extremely painful, anil being out Of sight
it i, difficult To determine what to do Cor
il.
The ouly rcmedic, which seem 10 be f.
relied upon the most. are light work,
hiud treatment, aud keeping the feet
moist. The latter may hc douc by keep
ing the animal standing on moi>; sand in
the stall. and by soaking the iccl every
other night, Tor one hour. in hot water.
lcrtSo or three weeks, and then tying
them up until the next morning in old
wooden clothes. Bleeding i sometimes
rcsortcd to, uud 80 i, a division of the
nerve Of the leg but they are OF doubtful
service. and ought not to be reSortcd -
only by experienced surgoncs.
The disease indicated by pointing Of the
foot is very common, and ought to receive
thorough investigation by veterinary sur
ceous. 1t makes the horse = very uncer-
tain traveller he becomes slow and
awkwar, in his gait. shrinkS when he .
goes down Hill or over stony ground. and .
Is liable to stumble and fall on any .
ground.
We would not recommend the use of
COW dung. or tho urine and salt which YOU .
mention; but rather stun the foot with .
wet cotton or. something that will retain
the moisture. The cotton may be kept in
by placing small piece OF fiat wood
across the shoe Wet the cotton when it
gets dry Ne,c England Farmer.