Hoof-Bound
(Plate No. 24.) A horse that is hoof-bound is deprived of his free action, and resembles a horse that is foundered.
Treatment.—The foot should be pared out thoroughly, and on each side of the frog, until it yields to the pressure of the thumb. Open the heels and remove the bors that press the frog on each side, and cause the animal much pain.
The toe should be shortened, and if the foot is inclined to contraction, the shoe should be fitted wider than the foot, which, if done properly, will expand the foot (see article Contraction). The shoe should be a good, heavy, open one, well eased off at the heels. Having the foot prepared, the operation should next be performed around the coronet, as follows: If the cartilages are hard, as they are generally from being pressed upwards, a groove should be made with a rasp immediately under the coronet, and extending all the way across from heel to heel, deep enough to draw blood. Next, with a fine knife cut notches across the groove at equal distances the whole length of the groove, and extending from the coronet downward.
By this operation, illustrated on Plate No. 24, the pressure is removed from the cartilages. After this a poultice of linseed meal should be applied around the coronet, which loosens all pressure and starts a new growth.
If the horse is lame from this disease the close cutting operation should be performed and the poultice applied one week; otherwise the operation need not be so severe.
Plates Nos. 25, 26, 27—Illustrations of Overgrowth of Hoof and Neglect before and after Treatment.—The illustration, “Before Treatment,” Plate No, 25, represents the ground surface of a foot operated upon, and “After Treatment” represents the same foot after one pound of overgrowth had been removed from one foot. Plates Nos. 26 and 27 show the difference between the foot before and after treatment, and show the importance of being careful in observing a horse’s foot so as to prevent lameness, and the various diseases caused by neglect.
Plates Nos. 28 and 29—Enlargement of the Metacarpal Bone.—In a great many cases because the enlargement interferes with the free use of the flexor tendon, pressing it out of its proper place. A horse with a contracted foot suffers from this pressure when the shoe is fitted tight and brings the heels inward. The metacarpal bones extend from the back of the knee downward to the pastern joint, forming, as it were, a brace on each side. They become quite small as they extend downward, and the enlargement is generally found on the inside of the leg. (See Plate No. 28.)
The enlargement may be discovered by running the hand downward from the knee, the thumb on the side and the forefinger on the other, until it is felt (see Plate 29, “A”). If pressed and the horse yields to the pressure, it is a sure sign that he is affected, and he should be properly shod at once as if for contraction, or the enlargement should be removed. To do this, the horse should be in the following position: First, with plenty of straw under him to prevent bruising; then he should be thrown on his side and fastened down, so as to allow the operator to make an incision with a fine pocket knife partly to the front and near where the enlargement is. This operation will not interfere with the tendons, or veins that extend upward from the foot. The incision having been made, the finger may be inserted, as shown in Plate No. 29, “B,” so as to raise the enlargement and make it visible. Then, with a pair of nippers, snap the end off with one motion. The incision should be closed, fastened together with a needle and silk thread; then apply a linen bandage and over this a woolen cloth, containing a little moisture, to prevent fever. A little sweet oil should be applied, to keep it clean while healing. The operation is not severe and is thoroughly effective.
Plates Nos. 30 and 31 represent a foot which has been deprived of the free use of the back tendons, caused by a sudden jar or misstep, causing a horse so affected to travel on his toe, and can be remedied only by a system of expanding the foot under the directions already given for contraction.
After this a shoe should be fitted with a toe and no heels, for by raising the toe the bearing is thrown on the heels. If the action is heavy on the toe, the shoe should be provided with a steel toe-calk. This will prevent a horse from traveling on his toe, and such a case, if taken in time, can be remedied, if not permanently cured, by simply fitting a shoe so as to throw the bearing on the heels.
Plates Nos. 30 and 31 represent an aggravated case, which from neglect became incurable.
Plate No. 32 represents the exterior surface of the sensitive frog. The great principle of this system of paring the horse’s feet, is to remove all pressure from the frog. It should be protected from all pressure, and such diseases as thrush and scratches may be avoided.
Plate No. 33 gives a sectional view of all the bones and tendons of the horse’s foot. Every blacksmith and farrier should thoroughly understand this and the anatomy of the horse’s foot, in order to be able to know exactly how to treat any disease which may be brought to their notice.
No. 33. Section of the Pastern and other Bones, Ligaments, etc.
A—Shank-bone.
B—Upper and larger pastern-bone.
C—Sesamoid-bone.
D—Lower or smaller pastern-bone.
E—Navicular or shuttle-bone.
F—Coffin-bone, or bone of the foot.
G—Suspensory ligament inserted into the sesamoid-bone.
H—Continuation of the suspensory ligament inserted into the smaller pastern-bone.
I—Small inelastic ligament lying down the sesamoid-bone to the larger pastern-bone.
K—A long ligament reaching from the pastern-bone to the knee.
L—Extensor tendon inserted into both the pastern and the coffin-bone.
M—Tendon of the perforating flexor inserted into the coffin-bone, after having passed over the navicular-bone.
N—Seat of the navicular-joint lameness.
O—Inner or sensible frog.
P—Cleft of the horny frog.
Q—A ligament uniting the navicular-bone to the smaller pastern.
R—A ligament uniting the navicular-bone to the coffin-bone.
S—Sensible sole between the coffin-bone and the horny side.
T—Horny sole.
U—Crust or wall of the foot.
V—Sensible laminæ to which the crust is attached.
W—Coronary ring of the crust.
X—The covering of the coronary ligament from which the crust is secreted.
Z—Place of bleeding at the toe.