diseases.

_Flatfoot_ is that condition in which the sole has little or no
convexity. It is a peculiarity common to some breeds, especially heavy,
lymphatic animals raised on low, marshy soils. It is confined to the
fore feet, which are generally broad, low-heeled, and with a wall less
upright than is seen in the perfect foot.

In flatfoot there can be little or no elasticity in the sole, for the
reason that it has no arch, and the weight of the animal is received on
he entire plantar surface, as it rests upon the ground instead of on the
wall. For these reasons such feet are particularly liable to bruises of
the sole, corns, pumiced sole, and excessive suppuration when the
process is once established. Horses with flatfoot should be shod with a
shoe having a wide web, pressing on the wall only, while the heels and
frog are never to be pared. Flatfoot generally has weak walls, and as a
consequence the nails of the shoe are readily loosened and the shoe
cast.

_Clubfoot_ is a term applied to such feet as have the walls set nearly
perpendicular. When this condition is present the heels are high, the
fetlock joint is thrown forward, or knuckles, and the weight of the
animal is received on the toes. Many mules are clubfooted, especially
behind, where it seems to cause little or no inconvenience. Severe cases
of clubfoot may be cured by cutting the tendons, but as a rule special
shoeing is the only measure of relief that can be adopted. The toe
should not be pared, but the heels are to be lowered as much as
possible and a shoe put on with a long, projecting toe piece, slightly
turned up, while the heels of the shoe are to be made thin.

_Crookedfoot_ is that condition in which one side of the wall is higher
than the other. If the inside wall is the higher, the ankle is thrown
outward, so that the fetlock joints are abnormally wide apart and the
toes close together. Animals with this deformity are "pigeon-toed," and
are prone to interfere, the inside toe striking the opposite fetlock. If
but one foot is affected, the liability to interfere is still greater,
for the reason that the fetlock of the perfect leg is nearer the center
plane.

When the outside heel is the higher the ankle is thrown in and the toe
turns out. Horses with such feet interfere with the heel. If but one
foot is so affected, the liability to interfere is less than when both
feet are affected, for the reason that the ankle of the perfect leg is
not so n