PRICKS AND BRUISES OF THE HORSES FOOT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 302, 7 February 1868, Page 3

PRICKS AND BRUISES OF THE HORSES FOOT.

(FROM THE NORTH BRITISH AGRICULTURIST.) In riding or driving in the hunting field, and even on the farm, horses are liable to "pick up a nail " which sometimes penetrates the horny sole or frog, and often does considerable damage. The interior vascular tissues of the foot are apt to be similarly injured by the shoeing smith driving his nails awkwardly. In all such cases the animal becomes lame either immediately or shortly after the accident; the foot is usually hot and tender ; but externally ther e is seldom much to be seen—perhaps a small orifice ant a little discolouration of sur. rounding horn are observed ; whilst a few drops of bloody serum, or after a day or two a little pus may be discharged. On account of the insignificance of these appearances, such injuries are apt to be too lightly regarded ; the horse is perhaps kept at work ; at best he is ordered a few days rest, or is made to stand in a warm poultice. Trivial in their causes, and simple and manageable at their outset, such cases some times run on to untoward and even fatal results. The internal vascular sensitive struc tures of the foot when prick'd, torn, or bruised, becomes inflame \ lymph or pus or a 3lough is formed, but it cannot escape through the hard comparatively unyielding horny hoof ; its retention provokes more and more local irritation and pain, which in their turn induce general fever, V.'e have frequently seen horses that a few days previously had been disabled, from a slight prick or bruise, standing pained and fevered ; the pulse reaching seventy or eighty, the breathing quickened. Active irritation once developed in parts so vascular and sensitive as the sensitive foot is with difficulty moderated or arrested ; the pain and c msequent fever continue, and the horse dies from the conjoined effects of the local disease and the general irritative fever. In other neglected and mismaged cases, the serum, lymph, and pus outpoured about the seat of injury gradually break up the eonI nexions between the homy and vascular la" mime, and the hoof is sloughed oft*. In still another class of cases, occuring most | frequently in high bred irritable subjects, the continue 1 strain occasioned by the ani. I mal's weight being sustained for several days on three instead of four Ices, is apt to set up inflammation of the laini ■ ee n some ; of the sound feet. Usually when a fore-foot been hurt, the opposite fore-foot, bearing more than its own share of weight, becomes inflamid, inducing a great amount of irritative fever. By rational care these various untoward results may generally be warded off. A horse's foot when pricked or bruised should at once be carefully examined; the shoe should bo taken off, and the foot fomented and poulticed. A half dose of physic and a mash diet are commendable precautions, lessening irritation and pain, and diminishing the chances of febrile excitement. The horn immediately over and around the seat of injury, cleansed and softened by the fomentation and poultice, should now bo pared away. Any nailstuds, grit, or foreign bodies will thus be got away,whiist a free escape is allowed for any blood, scrum, or in. flammatarymatter, and facility afforded for the separation of dead particles, and the application of suitable dressings. These need not be very complicated; a piece of tow wetted with any simple astringent lotion, will suffice, and may be kept in its position by a boot, or in slighter cases by tacking on a light shoe and leather sole. Any exuberan* granulations are repressed by properly adjusted pressure and occasional dressings of caustic. Any bad smells connected with such wounds are removed by their being daily sprinkled with a solution of one part of carbolic acid in four of linseed oil, cr with some of Macdougail's useful disinfectant powder. In many injuries of the feet the horse appears to have a dread of lying down, and when he stan's persistently for more than two days, he must either bo slung or made to lie. When once down he will generally rest contedly, and on a well made bod of short straw, and 'with a help to rise once or twice daily, his legs will be saved any undue strain, and his injured foot will make more satisfactory progress. IIOLLO'.VAYS OINTMEKT AXD PILLS. A severe attack of gout cured by their use.—M. Martin, of Port Elizabeth, was frequently attacked with gout, which confined him to bis room for weeks together. He adopted many means to get cured of this painful disease, but each time it returned, it was . with inareased virulence, and addition [ ol trouble to subdue. Sickened with the system of medicine hitherto adopted, lie commenced taking Ho]]ov;av,s Pills, well nibbing the ointment into | the parts affected. Theso two remed:o», conjointly used, cuml him in a | little more than -nine weeks, and ho has not since had any retur;i of the ' J complaint, although it is now nearly ' j two years sine" this cure was effected.