"There are many designs of shoes to relieve this condition. A great deal depends on the judgment of the shoer to meet the conditions presented, depending on the degree of the convexity and strength of the sole. In some cases we use a shoe that admits of a large amount of sole room. Again, we shoe with a shoe of wide cover. In other cases a shoe with even pressure over the whole sole. In some cases a high, narrow shoe, resting only on the wall, or the ordinary plain shoe with side calks welded close to the outside edge and the shoe dished well from these as a foundation. Then we have the air cushion pad designed after the model of the bowl shoe."
In cases when slight and persistent lameness interferes sufficiently to prevent using an animal at any sort of work on hard roads, median neurectomy will relieve all lameness in most instances. This is a safe operation, moreover, in that no bad after effects are to be feared, even though lameness were to continue.
Calk Wounds. (Paronychia.)
Etiology and Occurrence.—Injuries of various kinds are inflicted upon the coronary region but usually they are due to the foot being trampled upon. When the foot that inflicts the injury happens to be unshod, a contusion of the injured member is occasioned, but in the majority of instances, wounds that demand attention are the result of shoe calks which have penetrated the tissues in the region of the coronary band. Often calk wounds are self-inflicted. When animals are excited and in turning crowd one another, they often perform dancing movements which frequently result in deep calk wounds of the coronet. Some horses have a habit of resting the heel of one hind foot upon the anterior coronary region of the other. While sleeping in this position, if they are suddenly awakened, the weight is abruptly shifted to the uppermost foot and the one underneath is (because of the pain attending its being wounded) quickly drawn out from under its fellow. In this way deep cuts may divide the coronary band and inflict extensive injury to the sensitive lamina as well.
An infectious type of coronary inflammation occurs in some localities during the winter months, wherein the condition is enzootic.
Symptomatology.—Depending upon the manner in which the injury has been produced, the appearance of the wound varies and likewise lameness is more or less pronounced. If the tissues are not divided and the wound is chiefly of the subsurface structures, there will not immediately occur pronounced local evidence of the existence of injury; but as soon as the lame animal is made to move, the peculiar character of the impediment (supporting-leg lameness with the affected foot kept well in advance of its normal position) directs attention to the extremity and all of the symptoms of acute inflammation are discovered.
Where a wound is inflicted which divides, in some manner, the surface structures (skin, coronary band, or the hoof wall) one's attention is at once called to the existence of the wound.
Because of the fact that there is every facility for the production of a sub-coronary and podophylous infection, these wounds should receive prompt attention. In some instances, the pastern joint is opened by calk wounds and then, of course, an infectious arthritis succeeds the injury.
Treatment.—In all contused wounds of the coronary region the parts need thorough cleansing; the hair, if long is clipped and a cataplasm is applied. Or preferably, an iodin-glycerin combination of one part of iodin to four parts of glycerin is poured on a layer of cotton, and this is confined in contact with the inflamed parts by means of a bandage.
Where normal resistance to infection obtains, the subject usually suffers no suppurative disturbance when the surface structures are not broken; and daily applications of the antiseptic lotion above referred to stimulates complete resolution. This may be expected in from four to ten days depending upon the extent of the injury.