Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-01-26
WOUNDS OF HORSES
Punctured Injuries Involve Feet
Most Frequently.
ORIFcE IS USUALLY SMALL
Produced by Penetration of Sharp
Pointed Substance, Such as Thorn,
Fork, Nail, Etc.-Symptoms
and Treatment.

s'9 tESobntCuNs
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agrfculture)
Punctured wounds of horses are
much more common than others. They
are produced by the penetration of ii
sharp or blunt-pointed substance, such
as thorn, fork, nail. ETC., and the
orifice of these wounds is always
small in proportion to their depth.
They involve the feet most frequently,
next the legs, and often the head and
face from nails protruding through the
stalls and trough. They are also the
most serious, owing to the difficulty of
obtaining thorough disinfectiOn and
the lack Of attention that they at first
receive. The external wound is so
small that but little or no Importance
is attached to IT, yet in a short time
swelling, pain, and acute Inflammation,
often of serious character, are mani
tested.
The most common of the punctured
wounds are those of the feet. Horses
worked in cities, about iron works,
around building places, ETC.. are most
liable to get mails in the feet" The
animal treads upon nails, pieces of
iron, or screws, and forces them into
the soles of the feet. If the nail. or
whatever il is that has punctured the
foot, is fast in some large or heavy
body, and is withdrawn as the horse
lifts his foot, lameness may last
for only few steps; but unless prop
erly attended to at once he will be
found in day or two to be very lame
in the injured member. If the foreign
body remains in the foot, he gradually
grows worse from the time of pune
ture until the cause is discovered and
removed. If, when shOeing, a nail is
driven into the quick" and allowed
to remain, the horse gradually evinces
more pain from day to day; but if the
nail has at once been removed by the
smith, lamenesS does not, as rule,
show itself for some days; or, If the
nail is simply driven too close" not
actually pricking the horse, he may
not show any lameness for week or
even much longer. Considering how
thin the walls of some feet are, the un-
eaSiness of many horses while shoeing
the ease with which a nail is diverted
from its course by striking an old
piece of nail left in the wall, or from
the nail itself splitting, the wonder is
not that so many horses are pricked or
nails driven too close" but rather
that many more are not so injured. 1t
is not by any means always careless
ness or ignorance on the part of the
horseshOer that is to account for this
accident.
Productive of Lameness.
FROM the construction of the horses
foot (being incased in an imperme-
able, horny bOx), and from the elas-
ITCHY of the horn closing the orifice.
punctured wounds of the feet are al
most always productive of lameness.
Inflammation results, and as there is
no relief afforded by swelling and no
escape for the product of Inflammation.
this matter must and does burrow be-
tween the sole or wall and the sensitive
parts within it until it generally
opens between hair and hoof." II
may thus be seen why pain is so much
more severe, why tetanus Qockiaw)
more frequently follows wounds of the
feet, and why, from the extensive. or
at times complete separation and cast
ing of the hOOf, these wounds must
always be regarded with grave appre-
hensiOn.
Symptoms and Treatment.
A practice which, if never deyiated
from-that of picking up each foot.
cleaning the sole, and thoroughly ex-
amining the foot each and every time
the horse comes into the stable-wiIl
reduce to the minimum the serious
of punctured wounds of
the feet. If the wound has resulted
from pricking, lameness follows soon
after shoeing; if from the nails being
driven too close, it usually appears
from four to five days or week after
wards. Always inquire as to the time
OF shOeing and examine the shoe care
FULLY, and see whether it has been mar
tiaiiy pulled and the horse stepped
back upon some of the nails of the
CLIP. Shooting pain is caused by
these wounds; the horse is seen TO
raise and lower the limb or hold II
from the ground altogether; often he
points the foot, fexes the leg and
knuckles at the fetlock. Swelling of
the fetlock and back tendons also fire.
Is seen, and is liable TO mislead
US. The foot must be examined care
1uliy' and this cannot be done prop
erly without removing the shoe. The
nails should be drawn separately and
carefully examined. If there is no es-
cape OF pus from the nail holes. or
II the nails themselves are not moist.
continue examination of the foot by
carefully pinching or tapping it at all
parts. With little practice the spot
where pain is greatest can be detect
ed or the delicate line or scar left at
the point of entrance of the foreign
Dody discovered. The entire sole is
then to be thinned, after which care
fully cut down upon the point where
pain Is greatest upon pressure. and.
nnally, through the sole at this spot.
When the matter has escaped, the sole.
so far as 1t was undermined by pus,
Is to be removed. The foot must now
be poulticed for one or two days and
dressed with n comnress