150 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



this cause, althougli it can be but a fractional part of the evil that 

 comes under my observation. 



In blaming the buttris for producing corns and other evils, a few 

 words of explanation is necessary. From the shape of this tool, its 

 tendency in cleaning out a foot with it, is to cut away both crust 

 and sole, bars, heels and all, to one level. In fact it is hardly 

 possible when using it to leave one part more prominent than 

 another, especially when it is the crust and bars that should be left, 

 and the sole removed. The hoof of the horse, though stronor and 

 tough to resist external agencies, is by no means a stiff or rigid 

 body, but springs and expands at every step, and along with this 

 expansion the sole descends and flattens out from the weight of the 

 horse resting on the coffin bone inside. Now if this descent of the 

 sole be not allowed for in fitting the shoe, either by a seat worked in 

 the shoe itself, or by cleaning out the sole to a lower level than the 

 crust, then the sole in its descent presses on the shoe, and the sensi- 

 tive part inside is squeezed between it and the coffin bone. As the 

 heel is the part of the foot in which expansion is greatest, and the 

 descent of the sole and coffin bone most, and as the angle between 

 the bar and crust is the place from which the sole is with greatest 

 difficulty removed ; so it is in the heels that the bruising and corn 

 producing action of bad shoeing is most to be met with. Yet I have 

 seen on all parts of the sole round near the crust, bruises caused by 

 pressure of the sole downwards on the shoe. The way therefore in 

 which the buttris aids in the production of corns, is from its unfitness 

 for effectually removing the more depressed parts of the unnecessary 

 horny sole. In the hands of a person aware of how the foot should 

 be dressed, and who will take the drawing knife and rasp to give the 

 sole, heels, and toe, the proper form, after doing the rougher part of 

 the work with the buttris, it is an efficient and useful tool ; and so 

 long as people allow the feet of their horses to grow six months at 

 a time without removing the shoes, they can hardly expect it to be 

 laid aside. Its abuse, however, if better understood, would be easier 

 guarded against ; and it is to this, rather than to its entire disuse, that 

 I wish my remarks to tend. 



The common way in which I have seen feet prepared and shod 

 here, is this : After removal of the old shoe the buttris is brought 

 over the frog, bars and heels first, and these being soft and easily 



