While the affection lasts, these measures must be pertinaciously adopted; the feet, the entire time, must be repeatedly put in warm water, not only to soften the horn, but because the chief pain is caused by the congested or swollen condition of the secretive portion of the foot; congestion, likewise, induces the terminations to be most feared; heat or warmth is perhaps the best means of relieving loaded vessels. Cover over the water or blind the horse's eyes while in the slings, because acute disease is likely to disorder the vision, and a sick, imprisoned animal is too apt to be startled by the reflection of its own image. The author has had reason to lament the neglect of such necessary precaution.
The termination to be feared is disorganization—either from the casting of the hoof or the descent of the coffin-bone from its natural situation. The first result is preceded by chronic suppuration. A slight division is observed between hair and horn; and from the opening thus occasioned a small quantity of unhealthy pus issues, mingled with much bloody serum. Ultimately the entire hoof loosens and drops off, exposing the fleshy parts beneath. Now, all these fleshy parts must have been diseased before they could have separated from their secretion, and such fleshy parts are not the laminæ only, but all those represented in the engravings on page 373.
The sudden exposure of parts which, during health, are covered and protected, cannot otherwise than cause an extraordinary effect upon the body of the sufferer. Persons who have lost a nail seldom have that substance renewed in all its original integrity. Deformity or an imperfect secretion is generally retained to mark the deprivation. Nature appears averse to the restoration of any of her original structures.
THE SENSITIVE LAMINA AND CORONET DIVESTED
OF THEIR HORNY COVERING.
THE SENSITIVE SOLE—FROG AND BARS DIVESTED
OF THEIR HORNY COVERING.
Such a catastrophe is denominated sloughing of the hoof. After that has occurred it is useless to prolong the suffering by permitting the horse to live. Doubtless in time a sort of new hoof would be produced, but it would only be a deformity. It would want the toughness and strength of the original formation.
DIAGRAM.