Diseases of the Horse's Foot

by H. Caulton Reeks

FIG. 148.—DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING THE POSITION OF THE GROOVES IN THE WALL IN COLONEL SMITH'S OPERATION FOR SIDE-BONE. 1,2, and 3, mark the grooves in the order in which they are made; the dotted line a marks the position taken by the anterior line when the side-bone, is one reaching far forward, while the dotted lines b and c mark the position of the additional grooves to be made if thought necessary.

The third line is made in such a position as to divide into two equal portions the wall between lines 1 and 2. Here, however, some operators prefer to make two, or even three, lines, adding those as at b and c, Fig. 148; and Smith himself says that a multiplicity of lines is an advantage rather than not.

In any case, having once determined the position of the lines, they should be plainly marked out with chalk, and then viewed from a distance with the foot on the ground, in order to judge of their regularity. If we are satisfied with them, we then lightly mark them with the saw, with the hot iron, or with the knife, whichever instrument we may be intending to use.

Unless the details are methodically carried out as here described, it is probable that more of the foot will be isolated than is necessary, and that as a consequence very little is left to which to nail the shoe.

FIG. 149.—DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING THE POSITION OF THE GROOVES MADE IN THE HOOF IN COLONEL SMITH'S OPERATION FOR SIDE-BONES. 1, 2, and 3, show the grooves in the wall in the order in which they are made; 4 shows the groove made at the junction of the sole with the wall.

The incisions are then made with the saw or the knife, with the foot held in a convenient position by an assistant. That usually found most comfortable for the first incision is with the foot held forwards and placed on an assistant's thigh in the position adopted for 'clenching up' when shoeing, while that for the rear incision is with the animal's knee flexed, and the foot held well up to the elbow. In this, however, each operator will suit himself.

Should the preliminary steps in making the incisions be performed with the iron, it will be easiest done with the foot on the ground.

When the incisions through the wall are complete, our attention must be given to the sole. A drawing-knife is here used, and a further incision made over the white line so as to destroy the union of the sole with the wall between incisions 1 and 2, and so completely isolate the portions of wall included within the four grooves (see groove 4, Fig. 149). When this is done it should be found that the portions of the isolated wall spring readily to pressure of the thumb.