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ARE TREATED ON THE PRINCIPLES

XATE VETERINARY SURGEON TO THE ELEVENTH, AND NOW TO THE TWENTY THIRD

REGIMENT OF LIGHT DRAGOONS.

PRINTED BY EDWARD BAINES, FOR THE AUTHOR ;

AND JOLD BY LONGMAN AND CO. PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND HARDING, ST. J AMES's-STR EET, LONDON J

HEATON, LEEDS; TODD AND WOLSTENHOLM, YORK; HARGROVE, KNARESBRO'j JOHN

HURST, WAKEFIELD; SHEARDO,WN, DONCASTER, AND BY THE

BOOKSELLERS IN GENERAL.

THE scientific and learned Reader will readily perceive, that no regular Arrangement,
or Methodical Classification of Diseases, has been studiously observed in the Performance now before
him ; yet the Author trusts, that as the Contents of the Volume were sent to the Press in detached
Parts, during his Absence on Regimental Duty, he may hope to obtain some indulgence; and
that the Sincerity of his Intentions, though often expressed in a plain unlettered Style, may disarm
the Critic, and plead his Excuse.

TO EDWARD COLEMAN, ESQ.

PROFESSOR OF THE SCIENCE OF VETERINARIAN MEDICINE, AND VETERINARY SURGEON-GENERAL
TO HIS MAJESTY'S TROOPS OF CAVALRY, AND THE HONOURABLE BOARD OF

IF the difiinguifhed eminence you hate attained, and the office you
have fo long filled with honour toyourfelf, and benefit to your country, did not point
out a peculiar propriety in my dedicating the following pages to you, 1 ffiould have
been influenced by thefiillflronger motives of affection, and ihefenfe of duty I vwe
to you as the Profeffbr under whofe guidance and direction Ifirfl imbibed the rudi-
ments and principles of the Veterinary Art. And, altho' I am confeious, that the
prefent work can have no other claim to your notice, than as a tribute of profound
refpect, and unfeigned gratitude, yet, ifitfliould receive your approbation and pa-
tronage as the■firjlfruits of my endeavours to render myfelf ufeful in myfiation, it
would infpireme with a fmall degree of confidence and hope that my labour has not
been altogether in vain.

I alfo wifh, at the fame time, to exprefs my obligations, in common
with Veterinarian Surgeons in general, and the community at large, to Dr. Baillie,
Meffrs. Cline, Cooper, Abernethy, Home, STc. who have fa amply merited praife
and gratitude for their noble and diflinterejied afsiduities, attention and injlruction,
communicated to the Veterinary Collegians, and for whom, I truft, I fliall ever re-
tain the mqft grateful feelings of regard*

I remain, dear Sir,
With thejincereft wifhes for your profperity and happinefs,

Your much obliged and mojl obedient humble Servant,

Veterinary Surgeon to the l \th and 23d Regiments of Light Dragoons^

Lcerls, July 3d, ?
1806. V

-fXLTHO,' from the firft effabliihment of the Veterinary College, much in-
terefting information on the Treatment and Difeafes of Horfes, has continued to
ifsue from the prefs, and has defervedly obtained both credit and celebrity; yet,
as the author of the following pages has had the honour of being the firft
Veterinary Surgeon appointed to one of his Majefly's regular regiments of Ca-
valry, it has afforded him fuch an extenfive field of obfervation and enquiry
as may not, perhaps, have fallen to the lot of many others. And as his prac-
tice has happily met the approbation of thofe who have employed him in his
public capacity, as well as of a numerous clafs of gentlemen and others who
have confulted him in the line of his profusion, he candidly acknowledges that
he has been induced, at the earner! felicitation of thefe, to offer the prefent fiiort
detail of fafts to the eye of an impartial public, hoping for its kind indulgence.

In a work of this fort, where the path has been often occupied by the
feotfteps of others, a coincidence of fentiment muft fometimes occur, and afford
a corroborative proof that the mode of practice recommended by the Ve-
terinarian School is daily cltabliming itfelf on the firm bails of experience.

I am alfo induced to hope, that my feeble attempts at inftruetion may
have a tendency to excite, in fome degree, the feelings of humanity, in re-
fpect to the many fufferings which the generous animal, for which I am con-
cerned, is frequently liable from unmerited cruelty and injudicious treatment;
and that mankind may be induced to view thefe fufferings with an eye of fym-
pathy and tendernefs, and have recourfe to rational practitioners when difeafe,
or accident require relief.

Veterinarians labour under much greater difficulties than Phyficians and
Surgeons, as the faculty of fpeech feldom fails to afsht the endeavours of the latter,
and to lead to thedifcovery of the feat of the difeafe, or malady, while the
former are directed by the fimple fymptoms only. If the Phyfician alleviate
ficknefs or pain he gains credit, but if we fail in our attempts to render a lame
horfe perfectly found, we rarely give fatisfaction.

The Veterinary Art is ftill in its infancy, as Surgery was a century or two
ago, yet many great and lolid improvements have been made in it, not only in
difcovering the caufes and feats of difeafes in the Horfe, but in preventing and
removing them, and particularly in the treatment and management of his feet,
and the diforders brought on by improper fhoeing.

Corns, contracted and convex feet, now admit of a radical cure. Inflam-
mation of the lungs, (which if neglected in the incipient ftate, is foon fucceed-
ed by a dropfy of the cheft) and many other acute difeafes, which, if not re-
lieved in a few hours, become fatal, are fuccefsfully treated by the new practice,
as well as quotidians, tertians, and quartans, to which the horfe is liable. The
farcy, which, till lately, was dreaded as the plague, and faid to be contagious,

and fatal, wherever it made its attack, has at lafi; proved to be neither conta-
gious, nor fatal, when properly and judicioufly treated.

The Jaundice, or Yellows, a difeafe which has fo frequently baffled the
old practitioners, and which to this day, the Farriers perfift in the opinion
that it is infectious, but which I beg leave pofitively to deny, is fo far from
being fatal, that it admits of an eafy remedy.

That dreadful difeafe, vulgarly called the Canker in the foot, is now re-
moved without having recourfe to the cruelefl of all operations, that of drawing
the fole.

His Royal Highnefs, the Commander in Chief, fully imprefled with a
fenfe of the rationality and fuccefs of the Veterinary Practice, and of the modes
adopted for preventing difeafes, particularly in the feet of horfes, and of the
ufefulnefs of free ventilation, in flables, &c.; has fignified his high approbation
by offering a more ample remuneration to the Veterinary Surgeons in the army.

Empericifm, and the private intereft of individuals, have tended greatly
to retard the more general adoption and progrefs of the regular Veterinarian ;
even the reputation of the College has fufFered by falfe prejudices and mifre-
prefentations; no wonder then that the Veterinary Surgeon mould meet with
fimilar treatment, and perverfe oppofitlon, from common Farriers and emperical
practitioners; yet we cherim a hope, that truth, fupported by facts, will ulti-
mately prevail, to the full eftablifhment of rational practice, in which humanity
and tendernefs are blended with judgment, directed by experience.

AT is my defign to point out the mofl eligible mode of Shoeing Horfes, both
as it refpects the found, and difeafed hoof, and particularly that method which
has come more immediately under my own fuperintendance and care; alfo to
fpecify the mofl effential parts of the infenjibk hoof, defigned for the protection
of the fenfibte; with the fize of the nails mofl proper in fhoeing, and where
they ought to be placed : with cautions againfl, and confequences of, ap-
plying hot fhoes to the feet, by way of fitting the hoof to the fboe, inflead
the fboe to the hoof. Alfo to offer a few hints reflecting the application of
cow's dung to the feet; and the injuries fuflained by fuch practice, with the
method I have usually employed in treating the difeafes occafioned by it. It
is likewife my intention to give an anatomical defcription of the foot with the
ftiuclure, economy and difeafes of each part of it feparately, in as explicit a
manner as pofsiblc.

A Perfect Foot described.

JlT can fcarcely have efcaped the obfervation of gentlemen and others,
when viewing the bafis, or bottom of the horfe's foot, that the naturally healthy
foot approaches nearly to the form of a circle ; fo that a ftraight line drawn
from the infide to the outfide of the heel ought to be as long as a line drawn
from the heel to the toe ; and by whatever means this circular form is altered,
it mull prove injurious to the foot.

Since the erroneous ideas of Farriers have fo long prevailed, in continuing

the practice of cutting away the very eflential parts of the hoof formed for a

defence againfl: external injuries, and prefervatives againfl: the difeafes which

are daily occafioned by the removal of them, to the great difadvantage of

ihoufands in the army, as well as of great numbers of Horfes employed for private

^use. It appears to be a duty incumbent on every Veterinary Surgeon to fupprefs

fuch a deleterious and deteftable practice. It is not, however, my deflgn to

bring reproach on others, but rather to inStruct thofe who may unfortunately
be unacquainted with the fymptoms of difeafes in general, and to remove their
doubts, particularly on Subjects of importance. I have, therefore, arranged
my practice into cafes ; each cafe numbered, that the reader may, at one view,
fee the fymptoms of the difeafe, with the treatment of it immediately follow-
ing ; and laftly, the caufes fully explained fo far as they have been afcertained
by all the afsiduity, attention, and observation in my power to beftow; together
with the fuccefs of my practice in each inftance. It may be proper, firfl to
hint, that the ihoeing of horfes is a work of art, and by no means the deiign of
nature ; in many countries, to this day, no fhoes have ever been worn; to this
fact I have been a witnefs, in a variety of inftances. Two filters of the name
of Dover, at Kimble-Wick, in Buckinghamshire, who followed the farming
bufinefs, kept fix or feven horfes, three of which were never fhod ; two of them
were fix or feven years old, and one of them fifteen or fixteen ; they have done
all the neceffary work on the farm, repeatedly going to market, and other
places, with corn, &c. &c. without Suffering the leaft inconvenience from it.
Thefe horfes, I have often obferved, have feet as circular as a colt's, or as that
natural hoof which has never undergone any change. Upon inquiry I
found that the old horfe's feet were always circular, and expanded at the heels,
and perfectly found. And on examining the fole, it appeared to be very
thick, compact, and fiat, the bars parallel with the frog; and remarkably thick
and Strong; the frog more expanded than nature formed it; hard and tough,
the fole equally Strong, hard, and thick enough to reSift any offending body,
So that altogether they formed nearly one parallel fiat Surface, of that denfe, com-
pact texture that never required Shoes through life.

The feet of the young horfes were alfo as perfect and compact as thofe

of the old horfe, and as well formed for durability ; had never been in the leaft
tender; nature having always fupplied them with a growth of hoof equal to
the confumption ; the farmer had often occafion to rafp down the heels
parallel with the toes, the confumption at the latter being greater than at the
heels; and was frequently obliged to rafp the external edges of the hoof to pre-
ferve them from breaking when they became brittle by Handing too long in
the ftable upon dry ftraw, &c.

The fa<5t that a great number of horfes pafs through life, without fhoes, is
too well known to require any repetition. Every horfe which I have had an
opportunity of examining, after he had gone feveral years without fhoes, had
his feet as circular as a colt's, or as when firft formed by nature.

Surely there requires no ftronger evidence to prove, that contracted feet
are the immediate offspring of imprudence, and the abfurd work of art unat-
tended by fcience, and forbidden by all the laws of nature.

What can pofsibly tend more to illuftrate the above-mentioned abfurdily
than feeing thefe horfes undergo daily labour and fatigue, without either lame-
»efs, deformity in their feet, or any inconvenience whatever ; whilft thofe that
are repeatedly (hod, and have their frogs, bars and foles cut away by unguard-
ed farriers, can fcarcely Hand with one foot bare whilft they are fixing the
ftioe upon the other, without danger of falling down upon their knees. This
every one rauft have obferved who has been accuftomed to fee horfes mod.

What remains to be faid refpecling the foot, relates to the prefervation of

it, therefore a description of the parts which compofe it, together with their
ufes, may be advantageous as well as acceptable to my readers.

This work might perhaps have appeared more elegant, and have been
better received, had I laid down the ftructure of the foot, and its component
parts, in technical terms; at the fame time it would have faved me much
writing, and been fomewbat more accurate, but I muft beg leave to add, that,
that mode of exprefsing myfelf, in defcribing fuch an important part as the
foot of a horfe, would neither have anfwered my defign nor the purpofe of
thofe who are unacquainted with the anatomical, and technical terms; for
this reafon, I truft, the work will prove of more general ufe, by my explaining
the Structure and economy of the different parts that compofe the foot in as
explicit and intelligible a manner as the nature of the fubject will admit.

iff, It may not be improper to begin with defcribing the internal contents
of the hoof, in order to iliufirate more clearly the ftru&ure of the whole foot,
and the ihorter the explanation is, the better imprefsion it will make on the
mind.

The internal part of the hoof is compofed of ARTERIES, VEINS,
NERVES, LIGAMENTS, TENDONS, LAMINATED SUBSTANCES, and
FROG, thefe compofe the faifible contents of the foot.

2dly, The box, or external cruft or wall of the foot, the SOLE, BARS
and FROG, with the INSENSIBLE LAMINA, the CORONARY or HORNY
RING.

Thefe are the principal parts of the external and infenfible contents of
the foot, to be feparately defcribed hereafter.

3dly, There ftill remains to be mentioned, three bones and two cartilages
that make part of the compofition of the foot, viz. The SMALL or LOWER
PASTERN BONE, one end only of which enters the internal part of the foot.

The fecond is the COFFIN BONE, the upper furface of which forms an
irregular concavity for the reception of the inferior (i. e.J the lower end of the
{"mail paftern bone. The coffin bone is conical, refembling the hoof, and is
extremely vafcular, (i. e.J more blood veffels are, I believe, fent through this
bone, than through all the bones in the whole horfe.

It is concave at the bottom, to correfpond with the fole, to grafp the
ground, and for the reception of the flexor tendon of that mufcle which bends
the leg, and a portion of the fenfible frog.

Innumerable arteries pafs through this bone for the nouriihment of all

the internal parts of the foot, the fenfible frog excepted, which is nourifhed by

branches of arteries fent from the two large arteries, running on each fide of the

flexor tendon in the fetlock joint, and at their termination forming a complete

network of veins, covering the whole external furface of the coffin bone, (that

part excepted which is covered by a portion of the frog) and the infertion of

the tendon of the flexor mufcles of the leg, and the concavity for the reception

°f the lower end of the fmall paftern bone, fo that the foot altogether is the

moft vafcular of any organ in the whole body of the horfe, the kidrries excepted.

4thly, The third and laft bone is the NAVICULAR or NAVICULARE,
fo called from its likenefs to a boat, fituated in the cavity of the heel of the coffin
bone, as if it were defigned by nature to act as a prop, to keep expanded the
two points of the bone of the heel, and it would occafionally, from its fituation,
anfwer that immediate purpofe, were there any power of contraction employed
fufficient to do away the refiftance of the coffin bone itfelf.

Over this bone paffes the tendon of the flexor mufcle of the leg to be
inferted into the bottom and concave part of the coffin bone, and at the fame
time to perforin the office of a Lever to the tendon, and enable the mufcle to
make a more rapid and powerful fpring. This would appear more evident
had I time to give a defcription of thefe parts on plates, to ihew the mechanical
ftricture and powers of them ; as I cannot, I beg leave to refer my readers to
that beautiful and valuable work of Mr. Coleman, on the ftructure and cecono-
my of the foot of the horfe.

5th, The cartilages of the foot are of a triangular form, one fituated on
the upper edge of each hind quarter of the coffin bone, near that part which
is within the hoof, each of them occupies a femicircular fpace of about two
inches above the top of the hoof on each heel, which may be felt by employ-
ing a little preffure upon the upper part of the heels, called the quarters, by
which preffure any one may, who has the leaft knowledge of the cartilages and
their texture, determine whether they are in a perfect ftate, or become ofsified.

The cartilages fituated on thefe parts are very wife provifions of nature,
for if the heels of the coffin had been completed with bone, of the fame thick-

nefs that it is with cartilage, it would have been fubject to fracture from the
nature of their daily employment.

But it may be afked, why thefe cartilages are not as much fubject to
fracture, when ofsified from difeafe, &c. as if they had been fo formed by na-
ture at first ? We may anfwer, that the Maker of all things has as wifely altered
the form of the cartilages, when become ofsified, to prevent fractures, &c. as he
firft finifhes the coffin bone with cartilages for the greater convenience to the
animal, without being fubject to fraclure, which is evidently fo, and every one
who has feen an ofsified cartilage, and another in its natural, healthy ftate,
forming or completing the upper and hind parts of the coffin bone, may
very eafily perceive that it is nature's determination not to leave her work un-
finished, or undefended ; and though difeafes have changed its flexible texture
to a brittle one, ftill (lie interferes, and alters the ufual breadth and thicknefs,
contracting the cartilage, which before occupied a triangular fpace of two or
three inches, into the fpace, in many cafes, of not more than one inch and
half high, and thick in proportion.

That part of the cartilage which is lost by being contracted, is mostly
that portion which projects above the hoof; and the part inferted. into the
coffin bone is fafely protected by the hoof.

One very evident ufe of cartilages in thefe parts not yet mentioned, is to

take off or prevent the preffure of hoof upon the blood veffels, when comprefled

external bodies, difeafe, or deformity; as a great number of blood-veffels

are diftributed all over the external furfaceof the cartilages; which are flexible on

preffure. If they had not been fo formed by nature, and the blood veffels thus

distributed upon their external furface, the mifchief of cutting away the fole, bar
and frog, would have been much greater than it is, for as the heels contracted, they
would have acted as a comprefs upon the blood veffels, diftributed upon the
cartilages, and would have rendered them all impervious; but, as I before men-
tioned, nature has wifely formed flexible bodies for the diftribution of blood,
veffels in thofe parts, which muft otherwife have fuffered great inconvenience
by expofure to external injuries, which may be better underftood by examining
the foot of a Horfe, with all the blood veffels injected.

Having defcribed the bones and cartilages, with their ufes and functions,
and alfo hinted that there is fenfible as well as infenfible Lamina, I fhall proceed
to the fenfible with its mutual connexion with the infenfible.

Any perfon who has obferved the lower or concave furface of a mufh-
room, is at once able to judge what fort of an appearance the laminated sub-
itance of a Horfe's foot exhibits. For there is no one thing in nature that fo
nearly refembles it, as may be proved, when the hoof is detached. Atone view
the whole external furface of the coffin bone, (i. e.) the front and quarters,
may be feen completely covered with the laminated fubftance, refembling, as
before obferved, the concave furface of a mufhroom, when fituated in a per-
pendicular direction from the coronet to the toe ; the whole of the concave
furface, or bafis of the coffin bone, is alfo plenteoufly fupplied with thefe lamina?,
the fpace excepted which is occupied by the fenfible frog, and the infertion
of the tendon of the flexor mufcles before defcribed. Thefe laminas appear
to be a continuation of thofe diftributed all over the front and quarter, but are
much finer or fmaller, and are continued towards the frog in an oblique direc-
tion, diminishing in fize as they approach it, and Iaftly terminate in a fmall

furface entering the fides of the fenfible frog. Thefe laminns are about five or
fix hundred in number in a horfe's foot. Between each of them there is a fpace
(as may be feen in thofe of the mufhroom) to receive the fame number of in-
fenfible lamina?, which are firmly attached to the internal furface of the hoof,
to be hereafter defcribed. Thefe fenfible and infenfible lamina; receive each
other into their fpaces, fimilar to the teeth of a rat-trap, ftrongly embracing
each other. By their contractile power they anfwer the purpofe of a ligament,
and articulate the infenfible hoof to the fenfible foot. And though fmall, yet
being numerous, and of a very tough, ftrong, elaftic texture, they are equal to
the office of keeping the horfe completely fufpended on his hoofs, without
refting his weight upon his foles, and this prevents concussion.

The truth of this teftimony is unimpeachable, from the frequent oppor-
tunities which occur of making obfervations of this nature, in Morfes affected
with inflammation in their feet, viz. that they cannot fupport themfelves as
long as any inflammation fubfifts in the laminated fubftance. This is not be-
caufe the foles or bones are unable to bear the weight of the animal, but be-
caufe the fenfible laminae are rendered more fufceptiblc of impression, from the
inflammation, and when a Horfe, in this fituation, is driven beyond his abilities,
the fenfible and infenfible lamina? will lofe their union. I have feen, in feveral
instances, a hoof completely detached from excessive inflammation in the feet.
Surely there cannot require any other demonftration of a proper diflinclion to
be made between fenfible and infenfible lamina;.

THE Senfible Frog is of the fame form as the infenfible, only fomewhat
iefs elaftic, very vafcular, and fufceptible of external injury. It is fituated im-
mediately under (and is fmaller than) the infenfible. It receives two branches
of arteries for its nourifhment, &c. from the two large arteries running by the fides
of the tendons before-mentioned, which fupply all the other internal parts of
the foot, and thefe arteries terminate in fmall veins diftributed over its own
external furface, after which, they all unite into two, towards the heel, and
enter the two large veins, which convey the blood forwards to the heart. The
infenfible frog is concave in the middle, to receive the convex part of the
fenfible, by which means they very powerfully embrace each other, and
prevent diflocation.

THE Nerves of the foot are a continuation of what are termed radiales,
about the fize of a fmall wheat ftraw, running on each fide of the tendon of the
flexor mufclc, and purfue the fame direction till they reach the fmall
bone, called the navicular, under which they pafs, that they may enter the
coffin bone through two fmall apertures, formed for their reception, after which
they divide into innumerable branches, and pafs through the coffin bone,
again fubdividing into imperceptible ramifications, to give fenfibility to the
foot. A technical defcription of the nerves would perhaps have been more
accurate, but it would have been too intricate for thofe who are not acquainted
with anatomy.

THERE are two large tendons in the compofltion of a horfe's foof, which
are continuations of the extenfor, and flexor mufcles of the leg.

The extenfor is inferted into the fuperior or upper edge of the coffin
bone, at which infertion, and about two inches upwards, it is more expanded
than in any other part, by way of forming a ligament, to what is termed the
coffin joint.

The flexor is inferted into the bafis and concave part of the coffin bone,
equally expanded at its infertion, which expanfion is continued over the na-
vicular before-mentioned.

Thefe Tendons are compofed of white, hard, and tough elaftic fibres,
firmly connected together by a fmall portion of cellular fubftance. They do
not all appear to have entered the foot, for the purpofe of completing the
form of it only, but for the purpofe of facilitating the mechanical powers,
there being no mufcles in the composition of a horfe's foot, which are" the chief
inftruments of motion in every other part of the body.

THERE are alfo ligaments in the compofition of the foot, which are
clofe, compact, fibrous fubftances, for the purpofe of articulating the bones
together, and forming a cap to retain the fynovia (or what is generally, and
particularly amongft Farriers, termed joint oil) within the joint, defigned for
lubricating, and facilitating its motion. For a more perfeft and better under-
Handing thefe parts of the internal foot, I would recommend my readers to
the perufal of Mr. Coleman's obfervations on its ftruaure, economy and
difeafes, who has given very accurate demonnVations of the foot on plates.

THERE are fome few arteries not yet mentioned, which make part of
the composition of the foot, called the fuperior and inferior coronary arteries.
The fuperior appears from its being fituated round the coronet, whence its
name, and giving off a great number of fmall branches defigned to perform
the office of fecreting the horny matter for the formation of the horny or
coronary ring, the horny hoof in general, and the infenfible laminated fub-
ftances.

The inferior is fituated immediately upon the lower edge, and whole
circumference of the coffin bone, giving off a great number of fmall branches,
feemingly for the purpofe of fecreting the fenfible laminae of the fole, &c.

I prefume that an accurate defcription of the internal or fenfible bars,
and their connexions with the fenfible fole, without plates, would be intricate, as
it requires an accurate anatomical knowledge of the foot, to form theleaft idea
of them; from their minutenefs and Situation, they cannot be demonftrated
explicitly without the nicest difleclion.

Having defcribed the internal contents of the foot of a horfe, with their
functions, I prefume that a brief explanation of the external parts will be quite
fufficient, as every perfon muft be in fome degree acquainted with its form,
contents, and office.

It cannot have efcaped the eye of any one, that the hoof of a horfe is
of a conical form.

It is compofed of a number of compact, horny, elaftic fibres, much
fmaller in diameter at the top than the bottom ; and its bafis or bottom when in
its natural form, approaches nearly to a circle, fo that a line drawn from heel
to heel, is as long as a line drawn from the heel to the toe, which every perfon
may fee by examining the foot of a colt, which has never been mod. But
truft not to the foot of any horfe that has ever been fhod, for the perfect form
of a foot is from its Maker. The very firft inftrument that is employed to the
foot, by the Farriers, viz. the butteris, tends to pervert the work of nature, by
cutting away the bars, frog, and fole, which are mutually fubfervient to the
expanfion of the hoof, the form of which cannot be well underftood when
thofe parts are cut away.

THE fole is a compofition of horny fibres, fomewhat more elaftic than
the fibres of the external hoof, and forms the whole bafis of the foot, (the
fpace occupied by the frog, and the thicknefs of the cruft excepted,) it is about
half an inch thick, and is firmly articulated to the fenfible fole, by the lami-
nated fubftance.

The fole appears to be in fome meafure formed to keep the hoof ex-
panded, efpecially at the heels, to defend the fenfible fole, and the fenfible
contents under it, as well as to aft as a fpring to the foot when in aclion,
and by its concavity to embrace the ground, and give a more firm ftep to the
horfe.

THE frog is a very powerful, elaftic, compact fubftance, occupying a
triangular fpace m the bottom of the foot, from the centre to the heel, one
angle, with the bars, forms that part of the bottom of the foot called the heel.
A healthy frog projects up parallel with the external edges of the cruft, keeps
the heel expanded, and acls as a fpring in motion, and prevents the horfe from
flipping.

THE bars arc two in number, compofed of compact, horny fibres,
fituated in an oblique direction from the heel, on each fide of the frog, be-
tween that and the external crust, and terminate in forming a part of the fole
at the point of the frog, to keep the heels expanded, leaving a fpace of about
half an inch broad between them and the external cruft, which is fomewhat
more brittle than the rest of the fole. Ibis fpace is the feat of a corn, let the
caufe be what it may.

Having finifhed the defcription of the fenfible and infenfible parts of the
foot of a horfe, with their functions, &c. I mall next endeavour to explain the dif-
eafes, how they are fo frequently produced by cutting away tbofe parts of the
foot moll fubfervient and effential to its protection and offices.

1ft, Then I mail endeavour to prove, that whatever alters the natural
form of the foot, produces defeafe, (i. e.J the effect: of that alteration which
may properly be called the caufe of the difeafe. It is eafily proved, by
examining fuch feet as have never had their bars and frogs cut away; and
comparing them with thofe which have been repeatedly cut by the Farrier,
that unfkilful treatment has been the principal caufe of moft of the difeafes inci-
dent to the foot of the Horfe.

2dly, That corns are produced by preflure of the flioe, or bruife, upon
that fpace between the bars and cruft fpecified in the defcription of the bars.
Any perfon at all acquainted with the fituation of the bars, (independent of the
profession) may be convinced, that if they were not cut away, but kept pro-
minent and parallel with the external cruit at the heel, and that fpace between
them hollowed out with a drawing knife, each time of Shoeing, no fuch im-
proper preflure could take place; as I am well allured, that by a ftricl per-
feverance in ihoeing, according to the principles laid down in this trcatife, a
horfe would never have a corn, and the mofi inveterate corn would be radically
cured by the fame practice.

3dly, That cutting away the bar expofes that part between it and the-,
cruft to preflure ; the heel of the cruft, at the fame time, being cut too clofe
to the fenfible parts, expofes itftill more to external injury.

lfl, By a thick heeled flioe being placed nearly flat upon the fole.

2dly, By gravel and fmall ftones working under the flioe, and add
to the preflure. This could not happen, were not the bars cut away.

Cankers and running Thru/lies are alfo the immediate effedts of parte
down the fole, bars, and frog, which will appear under their proper heads!

That corns are produced by preflure, &c. is evident. The bars and

'eels of the fole being previoufly cut away, the thick heeled flioe employed

upon the remainder of the then in fen Able fole, contiguous to the fenfible pro-

duces inflammation. Sometimes it happens, that the blood veffels become im-
pervious from preffure, applied in the above manner; fometimesthe inflamma-
tion proceeds to fuppuration and abfcefs, forming matter between the fenfible
and infenfible fole, fiill retaining (to my furprize) the appellation of a corn.
Corns in common, appear to be no more than a fmall portion of the external
fole, placed between the bar and cruft, firft appearing red, which is the chief
lymptom that leads to the difcovery of the difeafe, as many horfes are lame
from bruifes, and from thick fhocs, &c. the parts when but recently bruifed,
exhibit no appearance of corns, but inflammation remains for fome days. Far-
riers attempt to remove the inflammation without removing the caufe, which be-
ing impossible, they fay the horfe is drained in the coffin joint, he is accordingly
bled at the toe, fired and bliftered upon the coronet, and is frequently obliged
to undergo the moft cruel of all operations, that of drawing the fole.

The rednefs before-mentioned, I believe to proceed from the violence
of the preffure upon the thin external fole, rupturing fome of the fmall blood
veffels; and the extravafation of blood tinges the infenfible fole in contact with
them, and foon difcovers itfelf externally.

There are alfo foft corns incident to horfes' feet, but there is no difference
in the caufe of the two, (/. e.) the hard and foft corn, for both are produced
by bruifes or preffure upon the fame part, and put on the fame external ap-
pearance, at first altering in colour and confiftence, from changes in tempera-
ture and treatment, (i. e J the removing a horfe from a hot, dry ftable, to a
cold wet one ; turning him into a ftraw yard, where there is much wet dung ;
or into wet marfhy ground. Such chances will alter both the appearance,
and confiftence of a corn. But when foft corns are found in horfes' feet,.

when Handing in a dry ftable, I believe they proceed from inflammation of
the fenfible fole, or the fenfible laminated fubftance which keeps the foles of
fome feet in a ftate of perfpiration, wifely ordained to get rid of the exifting
inflammation ; fo that not only the corn itfelf, but the frog, and fole, are much
fofter than in the feet of thofe horfes in which hard corns exift. Thofe feet
called by Farriers pummy feet, are moft fubject to foft corns, which ap-
pear to be more fufceptible of bruifes and preffure, from their form, than hard,
or concave feet, and in thefe the corn is always the fofteft part of the fole,
as is the cafe alio where corns are found in hard feet.

^WWtfWtHW�I.IW.I~~MTO~~IIM� II~~M.L~~I ��W»i«W^iW*~~l««wwiii~~»^MW»~~m.i>W~~W~~MH»~~.

HAVING finiihed my obfervat'ions on the production and appearance
of corns, I shall next fhew my indication and moft approved method of cure.
If matter be formed, and the laminated fubftance difeafed, or deftroyed by
the formation of matter, I invariably drefs the corn, or ftimulate the growth of
new lamina?, by dropping a few drops of Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes upon
the feat of the difeafe; the old external hoof, or the fpace between the bar
and crust, being previously cut away down to the fenfible laminae.

If the laminated fubftance be not difeafed, or deftroyed, as above-men-
tioned, removing the caufe will remove the difeafe. That is, by taking off the
fhoe, paring the corn down to the fenfible laminated fubftance, between the
bar and crust, leaving the bar prominent for the heel of the fhoe to reft upon,
with the fame equal preffure as upon the cruft, and immerfing the foot two
or three times a day, for three or four days together, in warm water, will be
quite fufficient to remove the painful effects of the corn ; and if the bars are
high enough to form a parallel fur face at the heel, with the cruft, the horfe

may be fhod with the common long fhoe, and perform his ufual office. If
the bar be cut away too low to admit of a bearing of the heel of the fhoe, a
bar fhoe fhould be employed, with the parts covering the feat of the corn
hollowed, to take off the bearing from the quarters, and caufe the part cover-
ing the frog to come in clofe contact with it, and let the nails be placed round
the toe, and none in the quarters.

By this mode of fhoeing, in one month, the bars will grow high enough
for the heel of the long fhoe to have a bearing equal with the cruft. The
bars being perfect, and the fpace between them hollowed out, each time of
fhoeing, to prevent future preffure, will be a certain preventive of corns in the
feet. When I firft joined the 11th Light Dragoons, a great number of the horfes
were tender or lame, from corns, the Farriers not being acquainted with the
Veterinary mode of preparing feet for fhoeing, all which I treated as before-
mentioned, viz. by taking off the fhoes, immerfing the feet in warm water, to
promote a growth of the bars, to relieve the inflammation of the feet, and to
foften the feat of the hard corns. When matter was formed, I dreffed the
parts with the tin6ture as above, and employed the fhoes before defcribed with
general fuccefs; and though there were nearly feven hundred horfes in the
regiment, I had not the care of a corn for two or three years afterwards. In-
deed the difeafe is fo fimple, that it requires little or no furgical treatment;
and if gentlemen would take the trouble of procuring a natural hoof prepared
with the bars, fole, and frog perfect, they would fee the cavity, or feat
of the corn, and by infifting on the bars being preferved when their horfes
were fhod, they might prevent them from ever having corns.

CORNS are fo common to all forts of horfes, after having been mod,
that they require no defcription ; I fhall therefore only briefly inform my rea-
ders, that they are fituated between the external crust of the heel and
the bar, tinge the part of the fole with blood, in the feat of them, extra-
vafated from the fmall blood veffels of the fenfible fole. The caufe of corns in
the feet of horfes, is the fame as that in the human toe, namely, the preffure of
the fhoe ; but the corn itfelf bears no fimilarity�that in the horfe is a difeafe
in the fenfible fole, difcriminated by inflammation, extravafation, and frequently
fuppuration ; in the human toe the difeafe is generally in the fkin only, a corn
is the llmpleft difeafe to cure of any incident to the horfe, it commonly yields
to paring away, at different times, with a drawing knife, all the part that is'dif-
coloured, leaving the bar and cruft projecting a little above its furface, every
time the horfe is mod; hollowing out the fpace between the bar and crufr,
which not only removes the corn, but if perfevered in, will prove a fine pre-
ventive in future; including accidental caufes, I have not had fourteen
cafes of corns in the 11th Light Dragoons for feven years together; and they
have never required any other treatment than the fpecified alteration in fhoe-
ing. The firft cafe I met with of any importance, was in a horfe the property
of Captain Barratt, who had juft before bought him of a gentleman who had
tried every means he could hear of, but to no purpofe, and he was fold chiefly
on that account; the preffure had excited a violent inflammation, which had ter-
minated in fuppuration, leaving all the feat of the corn to the fenfible fole

hollow, and difeafed ; the horfe was not able to bear any fort of fhoe; the other
heel had alfo an incipient corn, and was a little inflamed ; to get rid of which,
I caufed his feet to ftand in warm water two or three hours a day, for three
or four days; the inflammation being abated, I difcontinued the water, and
pared away the incipient corn, nearly to the fole, leaving the bar as prominent
as the ftate of the heel would admit; the part of the fole in the feat of the other
corn, from the action of the warm water, was brought into a more properftate for
its being removed ; which being done, with a fine drawing knife, I dropped fix
or eight drops of Tin&ure of Myrrh into the cavity, night and morning, for
five or fix days, at which time there were granulations projecting and forming
fenfible fole, apparently quite as prominent as it ought to be; I then difcontinued
the ufe of the tincture, and applied dry tow prefled down into the hole which
gave a firm furface to the granulations, or fenfible fole; and, in a few days, an
infenfible furface was formed over it; in about ten days the horfe was mod
with the common long heeled fhoe, in which he went, without fhewing any
fymptoms of lamenefs. Mr. Barratt had the horfe in his poffefsion two or
three months afterwards, and then fold him perfectly found. Some people
allow two forts of corns, the hard and foft, they are both one and the fame
the hard is the firft fiage of inflammation in the parts, the foft is the termination
of inflammation, in pus or matter, or a predifpofition to abfcefs or ulceration;
absorption fucceeds, and the parts are deflxoyedand carried away in a fluid ftate.
I once favv a cafe in which nearly the whole bottom of the foot Was equally
inflamed, but was fofter in the feat of the corn than in any other part; the
bars were entirely cut away, but the feat of the corn was more prominent
than the external crust, fo that the fhoe lodged upon the feat of the Corn � I re-
duced the feat of the corn to the fenfible fole, and applied tips, in which the
horfe was turned out for a few weeks, in a foft, marfhy field ; in confequence

of the violent inflammation, it was very defirable to have had his feet put into
warm water, but that being impracticable, he was turned out; I vifited him
again, and, to my aftonifhment, found almofi every fymptom of inflammation
and rednefs in the fole, and feat of the corn removed; at a fecond vifit I pared
away the corn, and ordered feated fhoes to be made, but not to be put on till
the horfe had flood a few days longer without, in order to give preffure to the
convex fole.�I was informed in about a month afterwards, that he was at
work, and not the worfe for having had corns. When any confiderable inflam-
mation exifts, it is beft to immerfe the feet in warm water, three or four hours
a day, till it abate, in which time, the bars, which are generally cut away, wili
be growing up level with the external cruft.

THIS horfe was the property of Mr. Clark, at the Bell Inn, Barnby-
Moor, Nottingham ; he was a valuable poft horfe, but Mr. Clark had nearly
loft the ufe of him in confequence of corns; hearing that I was at Don-
cafter, he called to requeft I would go and look at him, and on examining his
feet, I found four of the worft corns I had ever feen in my practice ; the fole
was fo completely convex, that when the fhoe was taken off, and the foot put
upon a level furface, the external cruft did not even come in contact with the
ground, wanting about the fifth of an inch to bring it upon a level with the
fole ; however, I found that the fole would bear reducing nearly to a level with
the cruft, without any material injury, which I accordingly did ; and finding

37
the corns occupying nearly three times the fpace which they do in common,
attended by violent inflammation, and forenefs, infomuch, that the animal
could not bear the preffure of my finger upon the feat of corn ; the bars were
entirely cut away. I ordered the horfe to be turned out into a foft marfhy
field, and mod in tips for two or three weeks; when I again vifited him, to my
furprize, found every fymptom of inflammation and rednefs in the feat of the
corn removed; I pared away the corns, and very flight fymptoms could be per-
ceived of their exiftence, I ordered him fome feated ihoes, but not to be put
on, till he had ftood a few days longer without, in order to give preffure to the
convex fole. I was informed about a month afterwards, that the horfe was at
work, and had fuffered no very material detriment.

THIS horfe was the property of the Rev. Afcough Hawkfworth, of
Hickleton-Hall, in Yorkfhire. I obferved that the corns in the infide heels
Were much worfe than the outfide, which generally is occafioned by greater
preffure being applied to the former, than to the latter; and that is the
refult of turning up the outfide heel, which throws the centre of gravity upon
the infide quarter; the bars, at the fame time, which is very unufual, were
very good, therefore, it appeared that thefe corns were occafioned merely by
neglect of not leaving the feat of them concave, fo that the preffure upon that
part might be equal to that upon the bar and cruft. I have no other caufe to
assign, why a horfe mould have corns, when the bars and cruft are equally

prominent and healthy ; I pared them out with a fine drawing knife, as deep
as was convenient, without cutting the fenfible fole; he was turned out to
grafs for about ten days, after which I repeated the operation, and was able to
cut away nearly the whole of the corn, and he was again turned out. I paid
him a vifit about twelve days after, and found but trifling appearances of corn.
Mr. H. informed me four months afterwards, that they were completely
eradicated.

FRANCIS HAWKSWORTH, Efq. had a chefnuthorfe, at the fame time,
which had corns, nearly as bad as the preceding; he was treated in the fame
manner, and perfectly cured.

A Horfe the property of William Preft, Efq. Leeds, had corns cured by
a few times paring out, in the fame way that Mr. Hawksworth's were.

A HORSE the property of Mr. Horsfall, of Leeds, was cured by the
lame treatment, at two operations.

Wool "I¹*!, 7 i?⁰¹^' ^thC ^Pr°^Perty °^f ^G°^dfrey ^We^worth, Efq. of

l^l^JT^VeM ^had�^ and _which _wasradL,y
cured by twice or three times paring out.

I could very eafily introduce four hundred cafes more, that have come
"nder my care, treated with the fame fuccefs, having never failed in the cure
a corn m my life. I _have _had _two _cafes _in _wMch ^ ^.^ ^ -

way too much of the hoof, and applied fplrits of fch, which had deftroyed
t^e ood vefTels of the fole in the feat of the com ; a local depression of the heel

* _a;lT ZT^and ^if ^was ^with ^the ^§reatefl ^difficulty ^tbat ^a ^ -uid

Ppned. The feven cafes before-mentioned, will, I trull he f�ffl � .,
mftrufl- o-P.nti_Q � , ?:�'.* ^UUJC» oe lumcient to

^ tr_e r^er ^n,:^depropertobc ^erap,oyed =- *««� <*--.

method of Aoe.ng, _tbat �,ll be found convenient ,0 prevent their retnn,

HAVING fhewn the caufes, fymptoms, prevention, and cure of corns, I
fhall next confider the caufes, prevention, and indications of cure of Running
Thrufhes.

The characteristic of a running fhrufh is a fmall, foft, rotten, foetid frog,
occasioned by ftubs in hunting, bruifes from prominent ftones on roads, and
other accidental caufes. But nineteen times out of twenty by contracted
heels, caufed by two thick heeled fhoes preventing the frog from coming in
contact with the ground.

In this part I differ much from Mr. Taplin, who fays, in his eleventh
edition, page 94<, that the thrum is occafioned by an ichorous, corrofive dif-
charge, frequently the evident effect of neglect, in Suffering the horfe to go
badly fhod, till the frog, by repeated bruifes, lofes its original property, and
becomes difeafed. Now inftead of that corroiive difcharge being the caufe,
it is abfolutely the effect of the difeafe, or inflammation of the fenSible frog ;
and the worfe horfes are fhod, or in other word?, the thinner their fhoes the
better their feet are, (i. e.J the longer they wear their fhoes without injuring
the cruft or bars, even till the flioes are worn as thin as a fhilling, the more
compact, tough, prominent and healthy will the frogs be ; and when I have
a horfe that has a running thrulh, and unfound frog, I immediately caufe him

to be ill fhod, if I may ufe the term, not fuffering him to have any ihoe upon
the difeafed part of the foot, or nothing more than a tip upon his toe. I have
been feveral years in the habit of obferving running thrufhes, but I never faw
one in a perfect foot, defcribed in page 9, except it proceeded from a nail, or
fomething of that nature, puncturing the fenfible frog ; in that cafe, the treat-
ment has been as follows, immerfe the foot in warm water two or three hours
a day, two or three days together, or confine a poultice of bran, boiled to a
jelly, to the wounded part, till the inflammation has abated, and, if the fize of
the hole will admit of a little fpirits of turpentine, being dropt into it, after
the inflammation has fubfided, it will very foon Simulate and quicken the
growth of new parts, and fill up the fpace. But the turpentine fhould not be
applied till the inflammation has been removed.

When the running thrum is occafioned by contracted heels, the cure
in molt cafes, depends upon a removal of the caufe, and to do that radically
is a work of fome time, particularly if the fize of the frog be much diminifhed
by the compression of the heel of the cruft upon it. In that cafe, the heel of
the cruft, called the quarters, muft be rafped down to the fenfible parts; and
with a drawing knife, that part of the cruft which prefses upon each fide of the
frog, muft be cut away, to give room for expanfion ; at the fame time, the foot
ought to ftand on foft clay, or in water, a few days, to foften the quarters, by
Which means they will expand a great deal better, and grow much fafter. If
there be any inflammation in the frog, it would be better to employ the water as
warm as the hand can bear, by adding occafionally a regular i'upply of hot
water.

After which, a firmer texture may be given to the growing-frog, by

wafhing it twice a day with the following mixture, viz. Alum Powder, two
ounces; White Vitriol one ounce; difsolved in a quart of hot Vinegar.

But I mufl hint to my readers, that to dry up the difcharge from the
fenfible frog before the caufe be removed, is very dangerous, as the running
is a6Uially an effort of nature to get rid of the inflammation ; and that ichorous
fluid difcharged from the frog is no more than the horny matter fecreted by the
fecretory power of the parts, for the formation of infenfible frog, but the com-
pression of the horny cruft upon the fenfible frog, impedes nature in her defigns,
and compels her to throw off that horny matter in its fluid ftate. This is the
method which nature has taken to remove the inflammation in the frog of a
horfe'sfoot; and what tends more to corroborate this opinion is, that by removing
the caufe, viz. the contraction of the heels, the difeafe will ceafe, without any
application whatever; by only turning the horfe out while the hoof is grow-
ing the cure of the thrufh will be effected. It may, however, be better to
afsift nature as much as lies in our power, and I have cured the greater part of
thefe difeafes which have come under my care, by only thinning the cruft,
rafping the heels down parallel with the frog, wafhing it two or three times a day
with the fore-mentioned mixture, and letting the horfe Hand barefoot upon
flat ftones or ground, for a week or two, which is a fufflcient time to render
any foft frog hard and firm. A running thrufh is fo Ample in its incipient
ftate, that it is fcarcely entitled to a place in thefe pages. As long as it retains
that appellation, that is, before it terminates, as it frequently does, in another
difeafe, namely, a canker, it is the fimpleft of all difeafes incident to the foot,
and may, at all times, be prevented by proper fhoeing ; or be removed in the
early ftage of the difeafe, by Amply paring away, with a drawing knife, that
part of the cruft at the heel, which by contraction, prefles upon it.

A SANDCRACK originates from neglecl, being generally occafioned
by treads, &c. upon the coronet, at which part the horny fibres of the cfuft
are divided; and as it grows down towards the toe, the gravel, &c. not being
properly taken out every time the horfe comes in from a journey, works
through the infenfible cruft, to the fenfible laminated fubftance, producing
inflammation, which frequently terminates in fuppuration, or abfeefs, com-
monly called a quittor.

A Sandcrack fometimes proceeds from a natural difpofition in the horny
cruft to crack, when the horfe ftands a long time together in too hot a ftable
without exercife.

Sandcracks occafioned by fuch neglecl:, are fometimes met with in a
tranfverfe direction to the horny fibres, but one caufed by a cut, &c. runs
in a direction with the horny fibres, and by gravel working into the crack, it
reaches the fenfible lamina;, and produces difeafe. If the feat of the difeafe
be in the centre of the horny hoof, forming matter, it moftly makes its way
^up to the coronet before it fhews any difpofition to vent itfelf, unlefs an aper-
ture be artificially made in the horny cruft, for its outlet.

I have feen many inftances of fandcracks produced by too long nails

being driven into the hoof. This fort of fandcrack is generally worfe to cure
than either of the former, for this reafon, that the crack moftly reaches nearly
down to the toe, which has its portion of the weight of the body upon it,
keeping it in a ftate of expanfion, by which the horny fibres are divided, and
actually fo feparated, as frequently to prevent their union, until the crack has
made its way up to the coronet, without producing any difeafe in the foot, or
any inconvenience to the horfe. If this fort ot'crack fhould be occafioned by
one of the nails beingdriven into the quarters or heel, and it fhould make its way
up to the coronet, the confequence is much worfe than When it takes place
near the toe, for the union is then more difficult to effect, in confequence of
the weaknefs of the cruft at the heel; and when it happens to the fore foot,
the confequence is frill greater than in the hind foot, in the fame fituation, by
reafon of a greater portion of weight being thrown upon the heels of the horfe's
fore feet, when in action, than on the hind feet, which not only prevents the
union of the divided horny fibres, but alfo expofes them to bruifes, &c. the
effect of which is fometimes very alarming, producing a quittor, and fre-
quently a falfe quarter. Such are the caufes, appearances, and confequences,
of what are termed Sandcracks.

The next thing I fhall confider, will be how to prevent fandcracks, as
prevention mint be more advantageous to the owner of a horfe than a cure.

ifr, That fort of fandcrack which proceeds from heat, as before-men-
tioned, may be eafily prevented by keeping the liable clear of hot burning dung,
and of an uniform, moderate heat, directing the horfe's feet to be well warned
and cleared of gravel, &c. If the hoofs fhould have acquired a hard, brittle

45
texture, from frequent expofure to heat, let the horfe's feet (land, for a week
or two, in a fhallow tub, in which there is fome clay, reduced with water to
the confiftence of thick cream, which will retrieve the loft elafticity of the horny
fibres.

Secondly, That fandcrack which is occafioned by too large nails being
driven into the hoofs in fhoeing, may be eafily prevented, by ufing nails of a
fmaller fize, as directed at page 46\

That fort of fandcrack occafioned by cuts, &c. upon the coronet, admits
of an eafy cure, by a little care, in avoiding fpirituous tinctures, oils, balfams
ointments, &c. and bringing the lips of the wound in contact, by means of a
needle and thread, uniting them with adhefive plaifter, or comprefs and band-
age.

All thefe modes of uniting the lips of the wound mould be performed
during the bleeding ftate. If the accident happen upon a journey, and the
blood mould have flopped, and gravel, or dirt, has worked into the wound, it
may be waflied out with warm water, and rubbed dry with a linen cloth ; after
that operation, fufficient friction lhould be ufed with a dry cloth, or the finger
to excite frelli bleeding, in which ftate, clofe up the wound as before-men-
tioned.

This mode of treatment will, in molt cafes, prevent the hoof from being
materially injured. I have lately had feveral cafes of this nature, in which the
coronet had been cut through very deeply, but having fpeedily completed a
union of the parts divided, they never affeaed the hoof farther than leaving a

fmall fear or feam, about an inch long from the hair, without any divifion of
horny fibres. This has-been my treatment invariably in recent cafes of this
nature, and generally with fuccefs in this fort of fandcrack.

The fandcrack occafioned by too large nails being driven into the hoof
in fhoeing, requires quite a different treatment ; if the crack be in the toe, or
near it, the ufual ihoe may be employed, only with fmaller nails; and two
fmall nails fhould be placed one on each fide of the crack, within a quarter of
an inch of it, making the two ends of the cracked, horny crufi into two fixed
points by the nails, which will prevent any farther divifion of the horny fibres
upwards. If the divifion of the horny fibres does not extend to the fenfible
laminated fubftance, there will not be required any other treatment to effect
a cure, and if the laminated fubftance fhould be affected by the crack, thereby
producing inflammation, or matter, the foot fhould be made to ftand in water
of the heat of 108 degrees of Farenheit's thermometer, about fix hours a day,
till the inflammation is relieved, and the hoof fufficiently foftened to be eafily
cut away for discharging the matter, &c. if there be any. In thefe cafes, about
the fixth of an inch above the crack, the edge of a hot iron made in the form
of a chifel, fhould be applied in a tranfverfe direction, with the horny fibres, or
crack, till it burns its way through the infenfible hoof, to the fenfible laminated
fubftance,: care,being taken not to burn the laminae if possible.

The mode of burning the horny cruft in a tranfverfe direction of the
crack, as above, will prevent the crack extending any farther, at the fame time
ftimulate the growth, of, new horny fibres to fill up the crack. When it is
occafioned by the bignefs of the nails, as before-mentioned, and neglected, it
wiUxoake it&way upto ,the coronet, leaving the hooffplit from top to bottom.

The fame thing will occur if the hoof at the heel be fplit by the fame means,
and both are very troublefome to unite, or cure, as they require a long time,
and much reft to effecl ic.

The beft method of forming an union, that I have been able to learn, in
thefe divided horny fibres, is that of drawing the crack with a fine drawing
knife, as wide at the infide or bottom of the crack next the fenfible lamina?, as
the external edges are from each other ; then with a hot iron, made to fit the
crack, burn the bottom, the whole length of it, by lightly drawing the edge
of the firing iron upon the crack, till it flightly burns the fenfible laminated
fubftance, without burning the edges of the crack on either fide ; this being
carefully executed, will ftimulate the arteries, particularly about the coronet
to throw out more than the ufual quantity of blood for the formation of new
horny fibres, to fill up the opening. A few days after the firing iron has been
applied, equal quantities of Tar and Linfeed Oil being poured boiling hot
into the crack, two or three times a day, will promote a much greater growth
of hoof, and reftore the loft elasticity of the horny fibres in a fhorter time than
nature of herfelf can accomplilh.

This, with due reft, is all that is requifite to effedt a cure of this fort of
fandcrack ; unlefs through negleeT, gravel mould be forced in between the
fenfible and infenfible lamina?, in different directions, which I have repeatedly
experienced; and in fuch cafes I have been obliged to follow the gravel, &c.
by cutting the hoof away in every direaion, where I found any extrane-
ous fubftances introduced ; till I could extract every particle ; after which I
dreffed the feaion or wound with the boiling hot Tar and Linfeed Oil as be-
fore-mentioned, which will effea a more fpeedy cure than any application I

have ever feen in my practice. But let me admonish my readers to employ
an early remedy, as delay is fometimes of great importance. Any of the above
defcribed fandcracks, may terminate in falfe quarters, quittors, and frequently
cankers in the foot.

THE characleriftic of a canker is a fetid, putrid ftate of the foot, occa-
sioned by an ichorous, corrofive discharge from a difeafed frog ; or a termination
of inflammation of the fenfible frog, and fenfible, laminated fubftance &c.
moftly brought on by contracted heels. Whenever this difeafe becomes in-
veterate, it is attended with a lofs of the whole frog; part of the fole next to
the heel; and frequently the whole of the fenfible, laminated fubftance placed
under the horny cruft at the heels; the bone itfelf alfo difeafed, fo that the
practitioner is obliged to cut away both quarters, or heels, before he can apply
a proper remedy.

THE following was the cafe of a canker in a horfe's foot, belonging to
Mrs. Tudor, at the Crown Inn, Reading, Berkshire, which had been under a

Farrier's care three or four months previous to my being called in. Upon ex-
amining the foot, I found that all the frog was gone, either by difeafe,
or fome other caufe ; and the whole of the external cruft or hoof, from
one quarter, and all the fole from the bottom of the fame quarter ; the bone was
cxpofed for about five inches in circumference, (which arofe from the difeafe)
and was become as hlack as ink ; the laminated fubftance for an inch further
round the difeafed bone, and the remaining lamina? were in a ftate of high
inflammation, affirming the appearance of a piece of fungous flefh, projecting
full three parts of an inch above its ufual height.

As the horfe was unable to bear any part of his weight upon the difeafed
foot, Mrs. Tudor confulted. me, according to her own declaration, upon the
expediency ef attempting a cure, of of immediately putting the poor animal
out of his mifery, as there appeared fo little probability of his ever becoming
ufeful again, judging from the pre fen t afpeel; of the difeafe.

As I did not think it a loft cafe,, but that it appeared to require different
treatment, I was requefted to take it under my care, though not without fome
heiitation, as the horfe had already been very expeniive to the owner, (he
could not afford to give much for the cure upon an uncertainty. In confidera-
fion of her lofs, &c. Iaffentedto undertake the cure for two guineas, which
was, in truth, worth ten, upon the terms of no cure no pay ; to which Mrs.
Tudor agreed. After carefully examining the difeafed foot, next morning,
I acquainted Mrs. T. there was a great probability of reftoring the horfe to his
labour. She was, however, ftill undetermined whether to deftroy him or not,
he had been fo expenfive to her; but, as this was a very rare and bad cafe,
I wiihed much to have the management of it, accordingly, for the fmall

gratuity before-mentioned. I began to treat him in tu%\ following manner.
The unhealthy appearance of the bone ; the projection of fuperfluous, fenfible,
laminated fubflance refembling flefh, with the fetidnefs of the foot, altosether
indicating a defperate difeafe, induced me to apply a more powerful drefsing
than I am ufually accuflomed to do, viz.

Common Turpentine, half a pound, V

Spirits of Turpentine, half a pint, ! _vven _mj_xej_

Powdered Euphorbium, three ounces,

Corrofive Sublimate, one ounce j J

I dreffed the foot with an ounce of the mixture, made boiling hot, night
and morning, for a week ; cutting away part of the difeafed, fuperfluous flefh,
and then binding it well with tow, &c. The corrofive, flimulating qualities of
this drefsing foon caufed the unhealthy part of the bone to exfoliate � the
apparent fungous flefh completely floughed off, the fetid difoharge ceafed ;
the foot began to put on a healthy appearance, and in a fhort time, nothing
was. wanting to complete the cure, but a growth of hoof, and the other parts that
had been deftroyed by the difeafe ; which parts I dreffed every day with the
following liniment, made warm, viz :�

Oil of Turpentine, four ounces,
Oil of Linfeed, eight ounces,
Ointment of Elder, fix ounces,
Bees', wax, two ounces;
All well mixed over a flow fire. I applied this liniment about a month, when

I directed a light fhoe to be put on the foot, and thehorfe turned into a ftraw
yard for fix or eight weeks; in which time the hoof was fufficiently grown
to bear a common thoe, as ufual. I advifed Mrs. Tudor to take him up, and
work him, which the did for feveral weeks before I left Reading.

Happening to be quartered in that town, two years afterwards, I made
inquiry after the horfe, and was informed, that he was perfectly found.

Mad not the difeafe extended to the quarters, or heels, and deftroyed
them, as well as the frog, and fole, ftrong Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes, with
a fmall quantity of Tinclure of Euphorbium, or powdered Euphorbium mix-
ed with it, would have been a better drefsing to have flimulated the growth
of the laminated fubftance, after ufing the cauftic liniment; but in thefe cafes,
in which there is a lofs of hoof, all fpirituous Tinctures, applied to the parts,
tend to harden, dry, and contract the growing, horny fibres upon their fenfible
contents.

On this account, oleaginous mixtures are preferable to fpirituous Tinc-
tures, &c. The fenfible laminated fubftance projecting above its ufual height,
forming fungus, &c. should never he deflioyed by a hot iron, nor hot oils,
fuch as Oil of Vitrol, &c. as they not only deftroy the fuperfiuous parts, but ren-
der impervious the blood vefl'els, which by nature are formed for the convey-
ance of blood to the external furface of the coffin bone, and for the formation

of the fenfible laminae there, which being deftroyed, as above-mentioned, a
hollow fpace will remain (perhaps through life) between the external furface of
the coffin bone, and the internal furface of the horny cruft or hoof.

The growth of the horny cruft originates at the coronet, forming infen-
fible lamina? in its internal furface, to be articulated to the fenfible, which being
previoufly deftroyed by difeafe, &c. renders an union impofsible. This is
the immediate refult of unfkilful hands, and an inconvenience hardly to he got
rid of. When a knife might be ufed inftead of thofe burning oils, with fafety,
and repeated as often as neceffary without danger.

THIS horfe was the property of Mr. Corfter, of Wallingford, in Berks-
fliire. The difeafe was occafioned by the neglecting of an acrimonious dif-
charge from a farcy, greafy leg, (vide cafe 3, of the Farcy) and characleriftic
of canker, and the fymptoms in page 46\

In this cafe, the difeafe had not made any great progrefs. The fro^
was deftroyed, and part of the fole, on the fide of the frog, with part of the
fenfible laminated fubftance.

I firft cut away all the difeafed frog, and that part of the fole and la-
minated fubftance which was difeafed, drefsing it with Egyptiacum, twice a day,
and warning off the old drefsing previoufly to the new one being applied.
This treatment I continued for three days, then discontinued it two days; dur-
ing which interval I ordered the foot to be immerfed in warm water, two
hours a day, which brought away all the adhefive drefsings that had been
applied ; and all the difeafed parts of the frog, &c. floughed off, leaving the
fore perfectly clean, after having been drefled twice a day for ten days
together, with Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes. The parts then put on a very
healthy afpec~r, and nothing more was wanting but good care and cleaning, to
promote a fpeedy growth of frog and fole.

This horfe, previoufly to his lamenefs, had ran in a poft chaife, but his
difeafe, complicated as it was, (which may be feen by referring to cafe the 3d
of the Farcy) preventing him from doing any fort of work, for feveral months
before I undertook the cure ; and notwithstanding the violence of the difeafe,
and the length of time it had fubfifted, he was, by this Ample application, en-
abled to endure his ufual work in eight weeks, from the firft commencement
of the cure.

THIS horfe was the property of Humphrey Sturt, Efq. of Clifton, in
Dorfetfhire.

A moft extraordinary contraaion in the heels of both fore feet; frogs
foft, fmall, fetid and putrid, attended by a violent inflammation. Mr. Sturt
informed me, upon my firit vifiting the horfe, that he had, about a year ago,
as open, expanded heels, and broad, prominent frog, as ever he faw.

MR. STURT agreed with me in opinion, refpeaingthe caufe, he fup-
pofed it to have proceeded from the want of cleaning in fome meafure, and
from ill (hoeing, or improperly cutting the fole, bars and frog, by which the
fenfible frog was expofed to every projeaing (tone, &c. on the roads; and
bruifes from flubs, and the like, in hunting, had, altogether, excited a violent
inflammation in the frogs and heels; though the difeafe had not gone on fo
far as to deftroy much of the fenfible frog, and laminated fubilance, yet great

56
pain, and inflammation were excited by the contraction of the heels of
the crufl upon the frogs, on each fide, and a continued difcharge of ichorous,
fetid fluid was kept up for fome months before I was called in.

To cure the difeafe, without firfl removing the caufe, I found im-
pofsible; which induced me to fet about removing the caufe firfl, and that in
the following manner. I firfl rafped the quarter, or heel, from the coronet to
the bottom of the crufl, as thin as pofsible (i. e.J till I came at the fenfible part
of the foot; .fhortened the toe as much as it would bear, and thofe parts of the
quarters or heels that prefs fo powerfully upon each fide of the frog, 1 drew out
with a fine drawing knife, which gave room and liberty for the new frog to
grow and expand. The heels being thinned, and kept in contact with the
bottom of a tub filled with warm water, in which the Horfe flood fix
hours a day, for a week, not only caufed the heels to grow much
quicker than they would otherwife have done, but, by reafon of the prefiure,
to expand to their original dimenfions; which has a double efficacy in
fuch cafes, as it at the fame time removes the inflammation, and leaves the
foot in an equal temperature with the body. At the time I had this
horfe under my care, nearly the whole of the infenfible frogs was cut
away, or floughed off, yet, without any other treatment, every fymptom of
difeafe difappeared, and nothing remained to be attained but a growth of frog
and crufl, in order to effecT: a cure. To give a firm texture to the growing frogs,
, I caufed

I caufed them to be warned three or four times a day with the following embro-
cation, viz :�-

Brandy, half a pint,
Tincture of Opium, two ounces ;
The Alum to be firfi diflblved in half a pint of Vinegar. This embrocation,
in a few days, gave a covering or coat to the fenfiblc frogs, which, at the time,
were growing very faft, and perfectly found. I, at the fame time, encouraged
the growth of the hoofs at the heels, by frequently applying tar and hog's lard
to them. With this treatment I effected a cure of this complicated difeafe in
about fix weeks, which renders it obvious, that the more fimple the treatment
the more certain the cure, particularly in the incipient ftate of the difeafe. I
do not mean to fay, that the horny cruft was fufficiently grown down to bear
the prefsure of the long ihoes in the fix weeks, but that the horfe was conftantly
ridden in tips; and in ten weeks, from the time I undertook the cure, he
hunted with Mr. Sturt's own ftag hounds. It may perhaps appear extraordi-
nary, that I employed tips upon this horfe's feet from the firfi: time of fhoeing,
as bar lhoes might be fuppofed to be more proper, but the weak ftate of the
hoofs was not fufficient to carry the quantity of iron requifite to form a bar flioe.

THIS was a cafe in the General's troop, in the 1 lth Light Dragoons,
which was treated in every refpectthe fame as the laft, and with equal fuccefs.

I fhould have firft informed my readers that this horfe had a very greafy
heel, fuch as I could not get the belter of till I had recourfe to firing the
difeafcd parts. The difcharge and inflammation occafioned by this treatment,
were fo violent, that fomentations, poultices, diuretics, mercurials, alteratives,
&c. made no material difference in the difeafe of the heel, though I never had
a cafe of greafe before, but what would yield to the above treatment. This
induced me to fire the heel in the inflamed ftate, although evidently contrary
to nature, and foreign to my own principles and practice ; but having failed in
every other attempt to abate the inflammation, and the horfe, at the fame time,
being of little value, I knew the injury could not be great. From thefe con-
fiderations, I drew ten lines with an iron perpendicularly, in the heel, upon
the inflamed part, which foon raifed a very high degree of inflammation, inde-
pendent of the pre-exifting one in the part, which had the effect of counter-
acting the former difeafe, and occalioning a new one, and then it admitted of
a natural cure ; for the inflammation raifed in this manner, fubfided without
any application whatever, leaving the heel as healthy and found as ever it had
been.

Several other cafes of this kind have come under my care, all of which

I treated in a fimilar manner, with equal fuccefs, excepting one. A horfe

belonging to Mr. Smith, at Loud's Mill, Dorchefter, had been feveral months

under a Farrier's hands, who had cut, applied canities, and burnt away both

fenfible and infenfible laminae, that the natural properties of the fenfible



	DEDICATION,

TO EDWARD COLEMAN, ESQ. PROFESSOR OF THE SCIENCE OF VETERINARIAN MEDICINE, AND VETERINARY SURGEON-GENERAL TO HIS MAJESTY'S TROOPS OF CAVALRY, AND THE HONOURABLE BOARD OF ORDNANCE, &C. &C. SIR, IF the difiinguifhed eminence you hate attained, and the office you have fo long filled with honour toyourfelf, and benefit to your country, did not point out a peculiar propriety in my dedicating the following pages to you, 1 ffiould have been influenced by thefiillflronger motives of affection, and ihefenfe of duty I vwe to you as the Profeffbr under whofe guidance and direction Ifirfl imbibed the rudi- ments and principles of the Veterinary Art. And, altho' I am confeious, that the prefent work can have no other claim to your notice, than as a tribute of profound refpect, and unfeigned gratitude, yet, ifitfliould receive your approbation and pa- tronage as the■firjlfruits of my endeavours to render myfelf ufeful in myfiation, it would infpireme with a fmall degree of confidence and hope that my labour has not been altogether in vain.

		A 2
		A 2	/ alfo
			/ alfo



		20

	Sensible Frog.

THE Senfible Frog is of the fame form as the infenfible, only fomewhat iefs elaftic, very vafcular, and fufceptible of external injury. It is fituated im- mediately under (and is fmaller than) the infenfible. It receives two branches of arteries for its nourifhment, &c. from the two large arteries running by the fides of the tendons before-mentioned, which fupply all the other internal parts of the foot, and thefe arteries terminate in fmall veins diftributed over its own external furface, after which, they all unite into two, towards the heel, and enter the two large veins, which convey the blood forwards to the heart. The infenfible frog is concave in the middle, to receive the convex part of the fenfible, by which means they very powerfully embrace each other, and prevent diflocation.

			Nerves.



		21

	Nerves.

THE Nerves of the foot are a continuation of what are termed radiales, about the fize of a fmall wheat ftraw, running on each fide of the tendon of the flexor mufclc, and purfue the fame direction till they reach the fmall bone, called the navicular, under which they pafs, that they may enter the coffin bone through two fmall apertures, formed for their reception, after which they divide into innumerable branches, and pafs through the coffin bone, again fubdividing into imperceptible ramifications, to give fenfibility to the foot. A technical defcription of the nerves would perhaps have been more accurate, but it would have been too intricate for thofe who are not acquainted with anatomy.

			Tendons.



			�2

	/

		Tendons.

THERE are two large tendons in the compofltion of a horfe's foof, which are continuations of the extenfor, and flexor mufcles of the leg. The extenfor is inferted into the fuperior or upper edge of the coffin bone, at which infertion, and about two inches upwards, it is more expanded than in any other part, by way of forming a ligament, to what is termed the coffin joint. The flexor is inferted into the bafis and concave part of the coffin bone, equally expanded at its infertion, which expanfion is continued over the na- vicular before-mentioned. Thefe Tendons are compofed of white, hard, and tough elaftic fibres, firmly connected together by a fmall portion of cellular fubftance. They do not all appear to have entered the foot, for the purpofe of completing the form of it only, but for the purpofe of facilitating the mechanical powers, there being no mufcles in the composition of a horfe's foot, which are" the chief inftruments of motion in every other part of the body.

				Ligaments.



		M-

	Arteries.

THERE are fome few arteries not yet mentioned, which make part of the composition of the foot, called the fuperior and inferior coronary arteries. The fuperior appears from its being fituated round the coronet, whence its name, and giving off a great number of fmall branches defigned to perform the office of fecreting the horny matter for the formation of the horny or coronary ring, the horny hoof in general, and the infenfible laminated fub- ftances. The inferior is fituated immediately upon the lower edge, and whole circumference of the coffin bone, giving off a great number of fmall branches, feemingly for the purpofe of fecreting the fenfible laminae of the fole, &c. I prefume that an accurate defcription of the internal or fenfible bars, and their connexions with the fenfible fole, without plates, would be intricate, as it requires an accurate anatomical knowledge of the foot, to form theleaft idea of them; from their minutenefs and Situation, they cannot be demonftrated explicitly without the nicest difleclion.

			Hoof.



			Advertisement.

		THE scientific and learned Reader will readily perceive, that no regular Arrangement, or Methodical Classification of Diseases, has been studiously observed in the Performance now before him ; yet the Author trusts, that as the Contents of the Volume were sent to the Press in detached Parts, during his Absence on Regimental Duty, he may hope to obtain some indulgence; and that the Sincerity of his Intentions, though often expressed in a plain unlettered Style, may disarm the Critic, and plead his Excuse.



		( iv ) I alfo wifh, at the fame time, to exprefs my obligations, in common with Veterinarian Surgeons in general, and the community at large, to Dr. Baillie, Meffrs. Cline, Cooper, Abernethy, Home, STc. who have fa amply merited praife and gratitude for their noble and diflinterejied afsiduities, attention and injlruction, communicated to the Veterinary Collegians, and for whom, I truft, I fliall ever re- tain the mqft grateful feelings of regard* I remain, dear Sir, With thejincereft wifhes for your profperity and happinefs, Your much obliged and mojl obedient humble Servant, JOHN SHIPP, Veterinary Surgeon to the l \th and 23d Regiments of Light Dragoons^ Lcerls, July 3d, ? 1806. V



			PREFACE.

		A -fXLTHO,' from the firft effabliihment of the Veterinary College, much in- terefting information on the Treatment and Difeafes of Horfes, has continued to ifsue from the prefs, and has defervedly obtained both credit and celebrity; yet, as the author of the following pages has had the honour of being the firft Veterinary Surgeon appointed to one of his Majefly's regular regiments of Ca- valry, it has afforded him fuch an extenfive field of obfervation and enquiry as may not, perhaps, have fallen to the lot of many others. And as his prac- tice has happily met the approbation of thofe who have employed him in his public capacity, as well as of a numerous clafs of gentlemen and others who have confulted him in the line of his profusion, he candidly acknowledges that he has been induced, at the earner! felicitation of thefe, to offer the prefent fiiort detail of fafts to the eye of an impartial public, hoping for its kind indulgence. In a work of this fort, where the path has been often occupied by the feotfteps of others, a coincidence of fentiment muft fometimes occur, and afford a corroborative proof that the mode of practice recommended by the Ve- terinarian School is daily cltabliming itfelf on the firm bails of experience. 1 am



		( vi ) I am alfo induced to hope, that my feeble attempts at inftruetion may have a tendency to excite, in fome degree, the feelings of humanity, in re- fpect to the many fufferings which the generous animal, for which I am con- cerned, is frequently liable from unmerited cruelty and injudicious treatment; and that mankind may be induced to view thefe fufferings with an eye of fym- pathy and tendernefs, and have recourfe to rational practitioners when difeafe, or accident require relief. Veterinarians labour under much greater difficulties than Phyficians and Surgeons, as the faculty of fpeech feldom fails to afsht the endeavours of the latter, and to lead to thedifcovery of the feat of the difeafe, or malady, while the former are directed by the fimple fymptoms only. If the Phyfician alleviate ficknefs or pain he gains credit, but if we fail in our attempts to render a lame horfe perfectly found, we rarely give fatisfaction. The Veterinary Art is ftill in its infancy, as Surgery was a century or two ago, yet many great and lolid improvements have been made in it, not only in difcovering the caufes and feats of difeafes in the Horfe, but in preventing and removing them, and particularly in the treatment and management of his feet, and the diforders brought on by improper fhoeing. Corns, contracted and convex feet, now admit of a radical cure. Inflam- mation of the lungs, (which if neglected in the incipient ftate, is foon fucceed- ed by a dropfy of the cheft) and many other acute difeafes, which, if not re- lieved in a few hours, become fatal, are fuccefsfully treated by the new practice, as well as quotidians, tertians, and quartans, to which the horfe is liable. The farcy, which, till lately, was dreaded as the plague, and faid to be contagious, and



( vii ) and fatal, wherever it made its attack, has at lafi; proved to be neither conta- gious, nor fatal, when properly and judicioufly treated. The Jaundice, or Yellows, a difeafe which has fo frequently baffled the old practitioners, and which to this day, the Farriers perfift in the opinion that it is infectious, but which I beg leave pofitively to deny, is fo far from being fatal, that it admits of an eafy remedy. That dreadful difeafe, vulgarly called the Canker in the foot, is now re- moved without having recourfe to the cruelefl of all operations, that of drawing the fole. His Royal Highnefs, the Commander in Chief, fully imprefled with a fenfe of the rationality and fuccefs of the Veterinary Practice, and of the modes adopted for preventing difeafes, particularly in the feet of horfes, and of the ufefulnefs of free ventilation, in flables, &c.; has fignified his high approbation by offering a more ample remuneration to the Veterinary Surgeons in the army. Empericifm, and the private intereft of individuals, have tended greatly to retard the more general adoption and progrefs of the regular Veterinarian ; even the reputation of the College has fufFered by falfe prejudices and mifre- prefentations; no wonder then that the Veterinary Surgeon mould meet with fimilar treatment, and perverfe oppofitlon, from common Farriers and emperical practitioners; yet we cherim a hope, that truth, fupported by facts, will ulti- mately prevail, to the full eftablifhment of rational practice, in which humanity and tendernefs are blended with judgment, directed by experience.

		INTRODUCTION.

	E



		FARRIERY.

	A Perfect Foot described.

JlT can fcarcely have efcaped the obfervation of gentlemen and others, when viewing the bafis, or bottom of the horfe's foot, that the naturally healthy foot approaches nearly to the form of a circle ; fo that a ftraight line drawn from the infide to the outfide of the heel ought to be as long as a line drawn from the heel to the toe ; and by whatever means this circular form is altered, it mull prove injurious to the foot. Since the erroneous ideas of Farriers have fo long prevailed, in continuing the practice of cutting away the very eflential parts of the hoof formed for a defence againfl: external injuries, and prefervatives againfl: the difeafes which are daily occafioned by the removal of them, to the great difadvantage of ihoufands in the army, as well as of great numbers of Horfes employed for private ^use. It appears to be a duty incumbent on every Veterinary Surgeon to fupprefs fuch a deleterious and deteftable practice. It is not, however, my deflgn to bring c



		12 bring reproach on others, but rather to inStruct thofe who may unfortunately be unacquainted with the fymptoms of difeafes in general, and to remove their doubts, particularly on Subjects of importance. I have, therefore, arranged my practice into cafes ; each cafe numbered, that the reader may, at one view, fee the fymptoms of the difeafe, with the treatment of it immediately follow- ing ; and laftly, the caufes fully explained fo far as they have been afcertained by all the afsiduity, attention, and observation in my power to beftow; together with the fuccefs of my practice in each inftance. It may be proper, firfl to hint, that the ihoeing of horfes is a work of art, and by no means the deiign of nature ; in many countries, to this day, no fhoes have ever been worn; to this fact I have been a witnefs, in a variety of inftances. Two filters of the name of Dover, at Kimble-Wick, in Buckinghamshire, who followed the farming bufinefs, kept fix or feven horfes, three of which were never fhod ; two of them were fix or feven years old, and one of them fifteen or fixteen ; they have done all the neceffary work on the farm, repeatedly going to market, and other places, with corn, &c. &c. without Suffering the leaft inconvenience from it. Thefe horfes, I have often obferved, have feet as circular as a colt's, or as that natural hoof which has never undergone any change. Upon inquiry I found that the old horfe's feet were always circular, and expanded at the heels, and perfectly found. And on examining the fole, it appeared to be very thick, compact, and fiat, the bars parallel with the frog; and remarkably thick and Strong; the frog more expanded than nature formed it; hard and tough, the fole equally Strong, hard, and thick enough to reSift any offending body, So that altogether they formed nearly one parallel fiat Surface, of that denfe, com- pact texture that never required Shoes through life. The feet of the young horfes were alfo as perfect and compact as thofe of



					/



		13 of the old horfe, and as well formed for durability ; had never been in the leaft tender; nature having always fupplied them with a growth of hoof equal to the confumption ; the farmer had often occafion to rafp down the heels parallel with the toes, the confumption at the latter being greater than at the heels; and was frequently obliged to rafp the external edges of the hoof to pre- ferve them from breaking when they became brittle by Handing too long in the ftable upon dry ftraw, &c. The fa<5t that a great number of horfes pafs through life, without fhoes, is too well known to require any repetition. Every horfe which I have had an opportunity of examining, after he had gone feveral years without fhoes, had his feet as circular as a colt's, or as when firft formed by nature. Surely there requires no ftronger evidence to prove, that contracted feet are the immediate offspring of imprudence, and the abfurd work of art unat- tended by fcience, and forbidden by all the laws of nature. What can pofsibly tend more to illuftrate the above-mentioned abfurdily than feeing thefe horfes undergo daily labour and fatigue, without either lame- »efs, deformity in their feet, or any inconvenience whatever ; whilft thofe that are repeatedly (hod, and have their frogs, bars and foles cut away by unguard- ed farriers, can fcarcely Hand with one foot bare whilft they are fixing the ftioe upon the other, without danger of falling down upon their knees. This every one rauft have obferved who has been accuftomed to fee horfes mod. What remains to be faid refpecling the foot, relates to the prefervation of



		1* it, therefore a description of the parts which compofe it, together with their ufes, may be advantageous as well as acceptable to my readers. This work might perhaps have appeared more elegant, and have been better received, had I laid down the ftructure of the foot, and its component parts, in technical terms; at the fame time it would have faved me much writing, and been fomewbat more accurate, but I muft beg leave to add, that, that mode of exprefsing myfelf, in defcribing fuch an important part as the foot of a horfe, would neither have anfwered my defign nor the purpofe of thofe who are unacquainted with the anatomical, and technical terms; for this reafon, I truft, the work will prove of more general ufe, by my explaining the Structure and economy of the different parts that compofe the foot in as explicit and intelligible a manner as the nature of the fubject will admit. iff, It may not be improper to begin with defcribing the internal contents of the hoof, in order to iliufirate more clearly the ftru&ure of the whole foot, and the ihorter the explanation is, the better imprefsion it will make on the mind. The internal part of the hoof is compofed of ARTERIES, VEINS, NERVES, LIGAMENTS, TENDONS, LAMINATED SUBSTANCES, and FROG, thefe compofe the faifible contents of the foot. 2dly, The box, or external cruft or wall of the foot, the SOLE, BARS and FROG, with the INSENSIBLE LAMINA, the CORONARY or HORNY RING. Thefe



16* 4thly, The third and laft bone is the NAVICULAR or NAVICULARE, fo called from its likenefs to a boat, fituated in the cavity of the heel of the coffin bone, as if it were defigned by nature to act as a prop, to keep expanded the two points of the bone of the heel, and it would occafionally, from its fituation, anfwer that immediate purpofe, were there any power of contraction employed fufficient to do away the refiftance of the coffin bone itfelf. Over this bone paffes the tendon of the flexor mufcle of the leg to be inferted into the bottom and concave part of the coffin bone, and at the fame time to perforin the office of a Lever to the tendon, and enable the mufcle to make a more rapid and powerful fpring. This would appear more evident had I time to give a defcription of thefe parts on plates, to ihew the mechanical ftricture and powers of them ; as I cannot, I beg leave to refer my readers to that beautiful and valuable work of Mr. Coleman, on the ftructure and cecono- my of the foot of the horfe. 5th, The cartilages of the foot are of a triangular form, one fituated on the upper edge of each hind quarter of the coffin bone, near that part which is within the hoof, each of them occupies a femicircular fpace of about two inches above the top of the hoof on each heel, which may be felt by employ- ing a little preffure upon the upper part of the heels, called the quarters, by which preffure any one may, who has the leaft knowledge of the cartilages and their texture, determine whether they are in a perfect ftate, or become ofsified. The cartilages fituated on thefe parts are very wife provifions of nature, for if the heels of the coffin had been completed with bone, of the fame thick- nefs

	(

		J



		17 nefs that it is with cartilage, it would have been fubject to fracture from the nature of their daily employment. But it may be afked, why thefe cartilages are not as much fubject to fracture, when ofsified from difeafe, &c. as if they had been fo formed by na- ture at first ? We may anfwer, that the Maker of all things has as wifely altered the form of the cartilages, when become ofsified, to prevent fractures, &c. as he firft finifhes the coffin bone with cartilages for the greater convenience to the animal, without being fubject to fraclure, which is evidently fo, and every one who has feen an ofsified cartilage, and another in its natural, healthy ftate, forming or completing the upper and hind parts of the coffin bone, may very eafily perceive that it is nature's determination not to leave her work un- finished, or undefended ; and though difeafes have changed its flexible texture to a brittle one, ftill (lie interferes, and alters the ufual breadth and thicknefs, contracting the cartilage, which before occupied a triangular fpace of two or three inches, into the fpace, in many cafes, of not more than one inch and half high, and thick in proportion. That part of the cartilage which is lost by being contracted, is mostly that portion which projects above the hoof; and the part inferted. into the coffin bone is fafely protected by the hoof. One very evident ufe of cartilages in thefe parts not yet mentioned, is to take off or prevent the preffure of hoof upon the blood veffels, when comprefled by external bodies, difeafe, or deformity; as a great number of blood-veffels are diftributed all over the external furfaceof the cartilages; which are flexible on preffure. If they had not been fo formed by nature, and the blood veffels thus upon



19 furface entering the fides of the fenfible frog. Thefe laminns are about five or fix hundred in number in a horfe's foot. Between each of them there is a fpace (as may be feen in thofe of the mufhroom) to receive the fame number of in- fenfible lamina?, which are firmly attached to the internal furface of the hoof, to be hereafter defcribed. Thefe fenfible and infenfible lamina; receive each other into their fpaces, fimilar to the teeth of a rat-trap, ftrongly embracing each other. By their contractile power they anfwer the purpofe of a ligament, and articulate the infenfible hoof to the fenfible foot. And though fmall, yet being numerous, and of a very tough, ftrong, elaftic texture, they are equal to the office of keeping the horfe completely fufpended on his hoofs, without refting his weight upon his foles, and this prevents concussion. The truth of this teftimony is unimpeachable, from the frequent oppor- tunities which occur of making obfervations of this nature, in Morfes affected with inflammation in their feet, viz. that they cannot fupport themfelves as long as any inflammation fubfifts in the laminated fubftance. This is not be- caufe the foles or bones are unable to bear the weight of the animal, but be- caufe the fenfible laminae are rendered more fufceptiblc of impression, from the inflammation, and when a Horfe, in this fituation, is driven beyond his abilities, the fenfible and infenfible lamina? will lofe their union. I have feen, in feveral instances, a hoof completely detached from excessive inflammation in the feet. Surely there cannot require any other demonftration of a proper diflinclion to be made between fenfible and infenfible lamina;.

		Senfible

	E



		23

	Ligaments.

THERE are alfo ligaments in the compofition of the foot, which are clofe, compact, fibrous fubftances, for the purpofe of articulating the bones together, and forming a cap to retain the fynovia (or what is generally, and particularly amongft Farriers, termed joint oil) within the joint, defigned for lubricating, and facilitating its motion. For a more perfeft and better under- Handing thefe parts of the internal foot, I would recommend my readers to the perufal of Mr. Coleman's obfervations on its ftruaure, economy and difeafes, who has given very accurate demonnVations of the foot on plates.

			A'rt erics.



	25 Hoof.

Having defcribed the internal contents of the foot of a horfe, with their functions, I prefume that a brief explanation of the external parts will be quite fufficient, as every perfon muft be in fome degree acquainted with its form, contents, and office. It cannot have efcaped the eye of any one, that the hoof of a horfe is of a conical form. It is compofed of a number of compact, horny, elaftic fibres, much fmaller in diameter at the top than the bottom ; and its bafis or bottom when in its natural form, approaches nearly to a circle, fo that a line drawn from heel to heel, is as long as a line drawn from the heel to the toe, which every perfon may fee by examining the foot of a colt, which has never been mod. But truft not to the foot of any horfe that has ever been fhod, for the perfect form of a foot is from its Maker. The very firft inftrument that is employed to the foot, by the Farriers, viz. the butteris, tends to pervert the work of nature, by cutting away the bars, frog, and fole, which are mutually fubfervient to the expanfion of the hoof, the form of which cannot be well underftood when thofe parts are cut away.

		Sole.



		26

	Sole.

THE fole is a compofition of horny fibres, fomewhat more elaftic than the fibres of the external hoof, and forms the whole bafis of the foot, (the fpace occupied by the frog, and the thicknefs of the cruft excepted,) it is about half an inch thick, and is firmly articulated to the fenfible fole, by the lami- nated fubftance. The fole appears to be in fome meafure formed to keep the hoof ex- panded, efpecially at the heels, to defend the fenfible fole, and the fenfible contents under it, as well as to aft as a fpring to the foot when in aclion, and by its concavity to embrace the ground, and give a more firm ftep to the horfe.

			Frog.



	27 Frog,

THE frog is a very powerful, elaftic, compact fubftance, occupying a triangular fpace m the bottom of the foot, from the centre to the heel, one angle, with the bars, forms that part of the bottom of the foot called the heel. A healthy frog projects up parallel with the external edges of the cruft, keeps the heel expanded, and acls as a fpring in motion, and prevents the horfe from flipping.

			Bars.

		«



	Bars.

THE bars arc two in number, compofed of compact, horny fibres, fituated in an oblique direction from the heel, on each fide of the frog, be- tween that and the external crust, and terminate in forming a part of the fole at the point of the frog, to keep the heels expanded, leaving a fpace of about half an inch broad between them and the external cruft, which is fomewhat more brittle than the rest of the fole. Ibis fpace is the feat of a corn, let the caufe be what it may. Having finifhed the defcription of the fenfible and infenfible parts of the foot of a horfe, with their functions, &c. I mall next endeavour to explain the dif- eafes, how they are fo frequently produced by cutting away tbofe parts of the foot moll fubfervient and effential to its protection and offices. 1ft, Then I mail endeavour to prove, that whatever alters the natural form of the foot, produces defeafe, (i. e.J the effect: of that alteration which may properly be called the caufe of the difeafe. It is eafily proved, by examining fuch feet as have never had their bars and frogs cut away; and comparing them with thofe which have been repeatedly cut by the Farrier, that unfkilful treatment has been the principal caufe of moft of the difeafes inci- dent to the foot of the Horfe.

		2dly,



		30 duces inflammation. Sometimes it happens, that the blood veffels become im- pervious from preffure, applied in the above manner; fometimesthe inflamma- tion proceeds to fuppuration and abfcefs, forming matter between the fenfible and infenfible fole, fiill retaining (to my furprize) the appellation of a corn. Corns in common, appear to be no more than a fmall portion of the external fole, placed between the bar and cruft, firft appearing red, which is the chief lymptom that leads to the difcovery of the difeafe, as many horfes are lame from bruifes, and from thick fhocs, &c. the parts when but recently bruifed, exhibit no appearance of corns, but inflammation remains for fome days. Far- riers attempt to remove the inflammation without removing the caufe, which be- ing impossible, they fay the horfe is drained in the coffin joint, he is accordingly bled at the toe, fired and bliftered upon the coronet, and is frequently obliged to undergo the moft cruel of all operations, that of drawing the fole. The rednefs before-mentioned, I believe to proceed from the violence of the preffure upon the thin external fole, rupturing fome of the fmall blood veffels; and the extravafation of blood tinges the infenfible fole in contact with them, and foon difcovers itfelf externally. There are alfo foft corns incident to horfes' feet, but there is no difference in the caufe of the two, (/. e.) the hard and foft corn, for both are produced by bruifes or preffure upon the fame part, and put on the fame external ap- pearance, at first altering in colour and confiftence, from changes in tempera- ture and treatment, (i. e J the removing a horfe from a hot, dry ftable, to a cold wet one ; turning him into a ftraw yard, where there is much wet dung ; or into wet marfhy ground. Such chances will alter both the appearance, and confiftence of a corn. But when foft corns are found in horfes' feet,. when.



31 when Handing in a dry ftable, I believe they proceed from inflammation of the fenfible fole, or the fenfible laminated fubftance which keeps the foles of fome feet in a ftate of perfpiration, wifely ordained to get rid of the exifting inflammation ; fo that not only the corn itfelf, but the frog, and fole, are much fofter than in the feet of thofe horfes in which hard corns exift. Thofe feet called by Farriers pummy feet, are moft fubject to foft corns, which ap- pear to be more fufceptible of bruifes and preffure, from their form, than hard, or concave feet, and in thefe the corn is always the fofteft part of the fole, as is the cafe alio where corns are found in hard feet.

		TREATMENT

	H



	*^WWtfWtHW�I.IW.I~~MTO~~IIM� II~~M.L~~I ��W»i«W^iW~~l««wwiii~~»^MW»~~m.i>W~~W~~MH»~~.**

		TREATMENT OF COMJYS*

HAVING finiihed my obfervat'ions on the production and appearance of corns, I shall next fhew my indication and moft approved method of cure. If matter be formed, and the laminated fubftance difeafed, or deftroyed by the formation of matter, I invariably drefs the corn, or ftimulate the growth of new lamina?, by dropping a few drops of Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes upon the feat of the difeafe; the old external hoof, or the fpace between the bar and crust, being previously cut away down to the fenfible laminae. If the laminated fubftance be not difeafed, or deftroyed, as above-men- tioned, removing the caufe will remove the difeafe. That is, by taking off the fhoe, paring the corn down to the fenfible laminated fubftance, between the bar and crust, leaving the bar prominent for the heel of the fhoe to reft upon, with the fame equal preffure as upon the cruft, and immerfing the foot two or three times a day, for three or four days together, in warm water, will be quite fufficient to remove the painful effects of the corn ; and if the bars are high enough to form a parallel fur face at the heel, with the cruft, the horfe may



		33 may be fhod with the common long fhoe, and perform his ufual office. If the bar be cut away too low to admit of a bearing of the heel of the fhoe, a bar fhoe fhould be employed, with the parts covering the feat of the corn hollowed, to take off the bearing from the quarters, and caufe the part cover- ing the frog to come in clofe contact with it, and let the nails be placed round the toe, and none in the quarters. By this mode of fhoeing, in one month, the bars will grow high enough for the heel of the long fhoe to have a bearing equal with the cruft. The bars being perfect, and the fpace between them hollowed out, each time of fhoeing, to prevent future preffure, will be a certain preventive of corns in the feet. When I firft joined the 11th Light Dragoons, a great number of the horfes were tender or lame, from corns, the Farriers not being acquainted with the Veterinary mode of preparing feet for fhoeing, all which I treated as before- mentioned, viz. by taking off the fhoes, immerfing the feet in warm water, to promote a growth of the bars, to relieve the inflammation of the feet, and to foften the feat of the hard corns. When matter was formed, I dreffed the parts with the tin6ture as above, and employed the fhoes before defcribed with general fuccefs; and though there were nearly feven hundred horfes in the regiment, I had not the care of a corn for two or three years afterwards. In- deed the difeafe is fo fimple, that it requires little or no furgical treatment; and if gentlemen would take the trouble of procuring a natural hoof prepared with the bars, fole, and frog perfect, they would fee the cavity, or feat of the corn, and by infifting on the bars being preferved when their horfes were fhod, they might prevent them from ever having corns.

			Cafe.



		34-

	Case 1.

CORNS are fo common to all forts of horfes, after having been mod, that they require no defcription ; I fhall therefore only briefly inform my rea- ders, that they are fituated between the external crust of the heel and the bar, tinge the part of the fole with blood, in the feat of them, extra- vafated from the fmall blood veffels of the fenfible fole. The caufe of corns in the feet of horfes, is the fame as that in the human toe, namely, the preffure of the fhoe ; but the corn itfelf bears no fimilarity�that in the horfe is a difeafe in the fenfible fole, difcriminated by inflammation, extravafation, and frequently fuppuration ; in the human toe the difeafe is generally in the fkin only, a corn is the llmpleft difeafe to cure of any incident to the horfe, it commonly yields to paring away, at different times, with a drawing knife, all the part that is'dif- coloured, leaving the bar and cruft projecting a little above its furface, every time the horfe is mod; hollowing out the fpace between the bar and crufr, which not only removes the corn, but if perfevered in, will prove a fine pre- ventive in future; including accidental caufes, I have not had fourteen cafes of corns in the 11th Light Dragoons for feven years together; and they have never required any other treatment than the fpecified alteration in fhoe- ing. The firft cafe I met with of any importance, was in a horfe the property of Captain Barratt, who had juft before bought him of a gentleman who had tried every means he could hear of, but to no purpofe, and he was fold chiefly on that account; the preffure had excited a violent inflammation, which had ter- minated in fuppuration, leaving all the feat of the corn to the fenfible fole hollow,



		35 hollow, and difeafed ; the horfe was not able to bear any fort of fhoe; the other heel had alfo an incipient corn, and was a little inflamed ; to get rid of which, I caufed his feet to ftand in warm water two or three hours a day, for three or four days; the inflammation being abated, I difcontinued the water, and pared away the incipient corn, nearly to the fole, leaving the bar as prominent as the ftate of the heel would admit; the part of the fole in the feat of the other corn, from the action of the warm water, was brought into a more properftate for its being removed ; which being done, with a fine drawing knife, I dropped fix or eight drops of Tin&ure of Myrrh into the cavity, night and morning, for five or fix days, at which time there were granulations projecting and forming fenfible fole, apparently quite as prominent as it ought to be; I then difcontinued the ufe of the tincture, and applied dry tow prefled down into the hole which gave a firm furface to the granulations, or fenfible fole; and, in a few days, an infenfible furface was formed over it; in about ten days the horfe was mod with the common long heeled fhoe, in which he went, without fhewing any fymptoms of lamenefs. Mr. Barratt had the horfe in his poffefsion two or three months afterwards, and then fold him perfectly found. Some people allow two forts of corns, the hard and foft, they are both one and the fame the hard is the firft fiage of inflammation in the parts, the foft is the termination of inflammation, in pus or matter, or a predifpofition to abfcefs or ulceration; absorption fucceeds, and the parts are deflxoyedand carried away in a fluid ftate. I once favv a cafe in which nearly the whole bottom of the foot Was equally inflamed, but was fofter in the feat of the corn than in any other part; the bars were entirely cut away, but the feat of the corn was more prominent than the external crust, fo that the fhoe lodged upon the feat of the Corn � I re- duced the feat of the corn to the fenfible fole, and applied tips, in which the horfe was turned out for a few weeks, in a foft, marfhy field ; in confequence of



36 of the violent inflammation, it was very defirable to have had his feet put into warm water, but that being impracticable, he was turned out; I vifited him again, and, to my aftonifhment, found almofi every fymptom of inflammation and rednefs in the fole, and feat of the corn removed; at a fecond vifit I pared away the corn, and ordered feated fhoes to be made, but not to be put on till the horfe had flood a few days longer without, in order to give preffure to the convex fole.�I was informed in about a month afterwards, that he was at work, and not the worfe for having had corns. When any confiderable inflam- mation exifts, it is beft to immerfe the feet in warm water, three or four hours a day, till it abate, in which time, the bars, which are generally cut away, wili be growing up level with the external cruft.

	Case 2. THIS horfe was the property of Mr. Clark, at the Bell Inn, Barnby- Moor, Nottingham ; he was a valuable poft horfe, but Mr. Clark had nearly loft the ufe of him in confequence of corns; hearing that I was at Don- cafter, he called to requeft I would go and look at him, and on examining his feet, I found four of the worft corns I had ever feen in my practice ; the fole was fo completely convex, that when the fhoe was taken off, and the foot put upon a level furface, the external cruft did not even come in contact with the ground, wanting about the fifth of an inch to bring it upon a level with the fole ; however, I found that the fole would bear reducing nearly to a level with the cruft, without any material injury, which I accordingly did ; and finding the


		A



37 the corns occupying nearly three times the fpace which they do in common, attended by violent inflammation, and forenefs, infomuch, that the animal could not bear the preffure of my finger upon the feat of corn ; the bars were entirely cut away. I ordered the horfe to be turned out into a foft marfhy field, and mod in tips for two or three weeks; when I again vifited him, to my furprize, found every fymptom of inflammation and rednefs in the feat of the corn removed; I pared away the corns, and very flight fymptoms could be per- ceived of their exiftence, I ordered him fome feated ihoes, but not to be put on, till he had ftood a few days longer without, in order to give preffure to the convex fole. I was informed about a month afterwards, that the horfe was at work, and had fuffered no very material detriment.

		Case 3.

	THIS horfe was the property of the Rev. Afcough Hawkfworth, of Hickleton-Hall, in Yorkfhire. I obferved that the corns in the infide heels Were much worfe than the outfide, which generally is occafioned by greater preffure being applied to the former, than to the latter; and that is the refult of turning up the outfide heel, which throws the centre of gravity upon the infide quarter; the bars, at the fame time, which is very unufual, were very good, therefore, it appeared that thefe corns were occafioned merely by neglect of not leaving the feat of them concave, fo that the preffure upon that part might be equal to that upon the bar and cruft. I have no other caufe to assign, why a horfe mould have corns, when the bars and cruft are equally prominent



38 prominent and healthy ; I pared them out with a fine drawing knife, as deep as was convenient, without cutting the fenfible fole; he was turned out to grafs for about ten days, after which I repeated the operation, and was able to cut away nearly the whole of the corn, and he was again turned out. I paid him a vifit about twelve days after, and found but trifling appearances of corn. Mr. H. informed me four months afterwards, that they were completely eradicated.

				Case 4.

	FRANCIS HAWKSWORTH, Efq. had a chefnuthorfe, at the fame time, which had corns, nearly as bad as the preceding; he was treated in the fame manner, and perfectly cured.

			Case 5.

		A Horfe the property of William Preft, Efq. Leeds, had corns cured by a few times paring out, in the fame way that Mr. Hawksworth's were.

					Cafe



			40 Running Thrushes.

		HAVING fhewn the caufes, fymptoms, prevention, and cure of corns, I fhall next confider the caufes, prevention, and indications of cure of Running Thrufhes. The characteristic of a running fhrufh is a fmall, foft, rotten, foetid frog, occasioned by ftubs in hunting, bruifes from prominent ftones on roads, and other accidental caufes. But nineteen times out of twenty by contracted heels, caufed by two thick heeled fhoes preventing the frog from coming in contact with the ground. In this part I differ much from Mr. Taplin, who fays, in his eleventh edition, page 94<, that the thrum is occafioned by an ichorous, corrofive dif- charge, frequently the evident effect of neglect, in Suffering the horfe to go badly fhod, till the frog, by repeated bruifes, lofes its original property, and becomes difeafed. Now inftead of that corroiive difcharge being the caufe, it is abfolutely the effect of the difeafe, or inflammation of the fenSible frog ; and the worfe horfes are fhod, or in other word?, the thinner their fhoes the better their feet are, (i. e.J the longer they wear their fhoes without injuring the cruft or bars, even till the flioes are worn as thin as a fhilling, the more compact, tough, prominent and healthy will the frogs be ; and when I have a horfe that has a running thrulh, and unfound frog, I immediately caufe him to



		41 to be ill fhod, if I may ufe the term, not fuffering him to have any ihoe upon the difeafed part of the foot, or nothing more than a tip upon his toe. I have been feveral years in the habit of obferving running thrufhes, but I never faw one in a perfect foot, defcribed in page 9, except it proceeded from a nail, or fomething of that nature, puncturing the fenfible frog ; in that cafe, the treat- ment has been as follows, immerfe the foot in warm water two or three hours a day, two or three days together, or confine a poultice of bran, boiled to a jelly, to the wounded part, till the inflammation has abated, and, if the fize of the hole will admit of a little fpirits of turpentine, being dropt into it, after the inflammation has fubfided, it will very foon Simulate and quicken the growth of new parts, and fill up the fpace. But the turpentine fhould not be applied till the inflammation has been removed. When the running thrum is occafioned by contracted heels, the cure in molt cafes, depends upon a removal of the caufe, and to do that radically is a work of fome time, particularly if the fize of the frog be much diminifhed by the compression of the heel of the cruft upon it. In that cafe, the heel of the cruft, called the quarters, muft be rafped down to the fenfible parts; and with a drawing knife, that part of the cruft which prefses upon each fide of the frog, muft be cut away, to give room for expanfion ; at the fame time, the foot ought to ftand on foft clay, or in water, a few days, to foften the quarters, by Which means they will expand a great deal better, and grow much fafter. If there be any inflammation in the frog, it would be better to employ the water as warm as the hand can bear, by adding occafionally a regular i'upply of hot water. After which, a firmer texture may be given to the growing-frog, by wafhing



		42 wafhing it twice a day with the following mixture, viz. Alum Powder, two ounces; White Vitriol one ounce; difsolved in a quart of hot Vinegar. But I mufl hint to my readers, that to dry up the difcharge from the fenfible frog before the caufe be removed, is very dangerous, as the running is a6Uially an effort of nature to get rid of the inflammation ; and that ichorous fluid difcharged from the frog is no more than the horny matter fecreted by the fecretory power of the parts, for the formation of infenfible frog, but the com- pression of the horny cruft upon the fenfible frog, impedes nature in her defigns, and compels her to throw off that horny matter in its fluid ftate. This is the method which nature has taken to remove the inflammation in the frog of a horfe'sfoot; and what tends more to corroborate this opinion is, that by removing the caufe, viz. the contraction of the heels, the difeafe will ceafe, without any application whatever; by only turning the horfe out while the hoof is grow- ing the cure of the thrufh will be effected. It may, however, be better to afsift nature as much as lies in our power, and I have cured the greater part of thefe difeafes which have come under my care, by only thinning the cruft, rafping the heels down parallel with the frog, wafhing it two or three times a day with the fore-mentioned mixture, and letting the horfe Hand barefoot upon flat ftones or ground, for a week or two, which is a fufflcient time to render any foft frog hard and firm. A running thrufh is fo Ample in its incipient ftate, that it is fcarcely entitled to a place in thefe pages. As long as it retains that appellation, that is, before it terminates, as it frequently does, in another difeafe, namely, a canker, it is the fimpleft of all difeafes incident to the foot, and may, at all times, be prevented by proper fhoeing ; or be removed in the early ftage of the difeafe, by Amply paring away, with a drawing knife, that part of the cruft at the heel, which by contraction, prefles upon it. Sand-



		43

	Sandcrack.

A SANDCRACK originates from neglecl, being generally occafioned by treads, &c. upon the coronet, at which part the horny fibres of the cfuft are divided; and as it grows down towards the toe, the gravel, &c. not being properly taken out every time the horfe comes in from a journey, works through the infenfible cruft, to the fenfible laminated fubftance, producing inflammation, which frequently terminates in fuppuration, or abfeefs, com- monly called a quittor. * A Sandcrack fometimes proceeds from a natural difpofition in the horny cruft to crack, when the horfe ftands a long time together in too hot a ftable without exercife. Sandcracks occafioned by fuch neglecl:, are fometimes met with in a tranfverfe direction to the horny fibres, but one caufed by a cut, &c. runs in a direction with the horny fibres, and by gravel working into the crack, it reaches the fenfible lamina;, and produces difeafe. If the feat of the difeafe be in the centre of the horny hoof, forming matter, it moftly makes its way ^up to the coronet before it fhews any difpofition to vent itfelf, unlefs an aper- ture be artificially made in the horny cruft, for its outlet. I have feen many inftances of fandcracks produced by too long nails

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