Williston graphic., 1916-07-20
SHOE-BOIL
By DR.. L. Van Els
From The Dakota Farmer, Aberdeen,
South Dakota


horse, there where during the move
ment of the legs the skin glides over
the rather superticially situated part
of a bone, named ulna, closed sack
is lnterposed between skin and bone.
This sack is lined on the inside by
delicate membrane which secretes
a vlscid fluid by which the parts
moving over one another are lubri-
Gated. This fluid is called synovia
and the lining of the sack a synovial
membrane.
When those parts are subjected to
certain injuries they are apt to be-
come inhamed and enlarged, the re-
sulting globular tumor being popu-
kn;1y larry known under the name of shoe
Symptoms
AT first the enlargement is simply
due to an over-secretion of the syno-
vial fluid, but with the persistence
| OF the lnjuring factors the sack itself
thlckens by new formation Of
! lbrouS tissue of varying degree OF
thickness. When as result of the
injury the skin becomes abraded, pus
producing germs may be admitted
INTO the tissues and Suppuration is
added to the phenomena already pres
ent.
| According to the amount of fluid
| present and the thickness of the sack,
the enlargement shows a greater or
less degree of hardness and f1ustua-
tlon. If non-infected cases in which
the injury ceases to operate, the
swelling Of the parts is apt to recede,
often leaving a rather baggy condi-
ton Of the skin.
Suppurating cases often open spon-
taneously in the manner of an ordi-
nary abscess.
Lameness is usually absent, but
when the inflammation is intense the
| horse may evince a certain degree of
stiffness, while the parts may be
very painful to the touch.
Causes
! AS to the injuries responsible for
this state of affairs, they are largely
associated with a bruising effect
during the time when the animal lies
down and when the leg is flexed
under the body, causing the region of
the elbow to be pressed down upon
the hind part of the hoof. This
bruisng is usually more severe when
the horse is a shod one, the caulks
Of the shoe furnishing the special
cause of mischief. Hence the name
"shoe-boi.'
The injuries mentioned are espe-
cially apt to occur in the case of
horses placed in cramped stalls or
which are tied too shortly as under
those circumstances the animal is pre-
vented from lying down upon its side
or from shifting it's position as it's
comfort may demand.
The results of injury to the parts
usually assert themselves with GER
tain degree of suddenness and not
a few Of the cases arise within the
course of a day.
As in many cases the operation of
the injury persists, the condition Of
ten becomes chronic and the features
of the suppuration and the formation
of a thick fibrous wall of the sack
superimpose themselves on the mi
tial inflammation.
Treatment
1t is therefore wise to begin treat
ment quite promptly. This consists
in the first place in the prevention
of further injury and this at first is
best accomplished by preventing the
horse from lying down for a number
of days. To this may be added the
application of ice water to the in
famed parts at frequent intervals,
while in cases in which the enlarge
ment shows tendency to persist,
the use of blistering ointment judi
ciously repeated can be recommended.
When the enlargement has suffici-
emily subsidized, the horse can again
be permitted to lie down, preferably
after removing the caulks from the
shoe Gf not the shoe itself) or after
seeing to it that no part Of the shoe
projects beyond the quarter.
In such cases the horse must be
given sufficient room to lie down COM
fortably and when the animal per-
sists in folding it's leg in the position
which is apt to cause the bruising ef-
feet the foot may be wrapped with
burlap so that it forms a cushion or
may have applied around the cannon
thick pad of similar substance, SO
arranged that foot and elbow cannot
come in too close a contact.
In old chronic cases, consisting in
a greatly thickened sack, giving rise
to hard humorous formation and
which resist all treatment and pro-
tective measures, the removal of the
offending growth must be given con-
sideration. In no case, however,
should this be done hastily as the re-
suits are not always satisfactory and
the resulting wound is apt to heal
slowly, requiring frequent attention.
The operation should in all cases be
left to a skilled surgeon whose judge
ment should prevail in the manner
of procedure.
The opening of the sack in fresh |
cases is not always necessary, but |
may be advisable in cases where the ,
swelling is voluminous owing to an
great amount Of fluid pres
ent. The opening must then be made
in the lowest part Of the swelling and
after thorough draining the cavity
should be treated with rather strong
solutions of iodine in order to brin"
about the destruction of the diseased
synovial membrane. When pus is
present in the enlargement. the 1at
ter should always be opened and the
cavity treated antiseptically
until the latter has been entirely OBJ
terated.