The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-03
CONTRACTED 4s;=p AND phJr

''N-'N III - III ne c4:nin3f.S
ne consequence 6 I.r1rnnss in horses
-han the cause. ANY 4 s ased cen !.
'oa n iiae tnehoof -iyiu. rise to an I'M
usaaf degree OF heat leads 20 more
rapid evaporation from tie surface of
me hon, 10 Gr'inr and shrinking of
ohc hos. and 70 absorption If the soft
parts Y thin. The shrinkaoe or narrow
ny tat''s olacs especially ut the heel
where the loot has not / long, but only
an elastic. cartiiagin0us internal sup
port, W lith yields easily to any pressure
from Without, A second condition.
|h-eh lways comedies with this drying
iu" to disease, is the disease Of the heel
caused BY the animal standing on its
toe, or removing TIE weight from the
entire foot. When the foot is planted
on the ground and the weight thrown
upon it, the soft parts descending with
IN the hoof tend TO press it outward,
and aS a matter of fact the hoof does
actually expand ut the upper part, next
the hair, and thus the natural tendency
of the unused elastic horn to contract is
to great extent ccunteractcd. Disease
Is, therefore, a more common cause OF
contraction, and in all eases of contract
ed feet it is well first to look for some
existing disease. such as corns, bruises
pricks, and other wounds, gravelng
thrush, Inflammation from uneven bear
ing of the shoe. from the nails being
drawn up too tight, from nayicular dis
ease, from rngbone affecting the second
or third pEalanX, and so on.
Apart from any disease sufficient to
cause lamcness, contraction of the feet
sometimes goes on to an extreme de-
gree. until indeed, one heel may meet
the other; yet lameness is not induced
Yet, if contraction takes place with rap
idity, as under the influence of a long
period Of rainlesS weather following a
wet spring, the compression of the soft
parts by the drying aud shrinking horn
will cause inflammation and lameness.
Contraction caused in this way NAV
be countcractcd and corrected by meas
Grc5 calculated to soften and expand
the horn, followed by such as will re-
tain its natural moisture and give pro-
per bearing on the shoe To soften the
contracted foot, keep the unshod animal
standing every day for sixteen hours in
stream of water coming up to the
hair around the top of the hOOf, or in n
soft muck of clay puddle CLOSING in
around the foot to the same level. In
frosty weather warm poultice placed
in a strong bag drawn over the foot is
preferable, the more SO that it can be
kept applied night and day. At the
end of fortnight the foot Willusually be
found to have expanded to its natural
| dimensions.
Ii there is much lameness, it will be
desirable to apply blister on the front
and sides of the pastern during the
period of poultcing. This may he re-
| peated and the poulticing continued, if
| lamcness remains at the end of fort
| night As Il blister the following may
he rubbed into the akinon the front ana
sides OF the pAs!ern: Powdered canthari-
des one-half trachm; oil of lavender,
ten drops; olive oil, one ounce. 1t may
be repeated the second day ii heat and
| tenderness have not been induced by
the first application, and also As soon as
the effects of the first application have
| passed of and the resulting scabs have
| dropped off When lameness has dis
| appeared, and the foot has been Sutfici-
entity expanded it should be dressed
carefully, going the same height to the
wall at all corresponding points on the
inner and outer sides, and pairing hee
and toe in proper ratio with each other
the sole being left rs far as possible rC
come to the heel with the hoof wall al
all points, and furnish with it surface
of bearing for the shoe
The shoe should be perfectly loost
and smooth, and when applied should
press evenly at all points. 1t should bt
drawn only moderately tight, and OF
giving It's final dressing the use of tht
file should be as far as possible avoided
The horn is formed of series of pu.
tubes with an intertublar celluIarstrIC
ture, and when the rasp or file is useC
| so rs to expose the open ends OF thcSt
tubules the contained moisture eNhalee
the horn withers. and the soft parts ma,
be injuriou5ly pressed upon For thi
reason the use OF the lille on the front oI
the hoof i. to be severely deprecated. II
should only be used on the lower e.gt
of the hoof wall where it projects ovcl
: the shoe. and when the sharp edge
q might otherwise split mp. Fora similar
reason. ihr sole should never he parct
down into The tough, elastic horn
itlOugh an Syalv maSscs on the" SuTfa2;
nav be sGSaiy removed. AttcrshaVlng
tie usc Of hooi ointment will serve t
prevent evaporation and drying and i
. absolutely ne.dful aftcr the foot. Ba
been softened brPouiticiag. y mixtur
Ct equal parts Of wood tar and sweet ci
viii answer admirably This brushed
daily over the entire surface of the hoTl
wall, sole. and frog--will usually pre-
serve a sufiicicncy Of moisture and tn
aatwal elasticity and toughness Of tn