304 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



R[Nc,-Bones are sometimes caused by the unnatural turning 

 or twisting of the foot, caused by the paring of the hoof, or the 

 make of the shoe, or both. Sometimes a rolling stone or other 

 obstruction, as a snow-ball in the shoe, produces a sprain in the 

 pastern joint, around which is formed a spongy substance, 

 which soon becomes hard like the bone, forming a ring nearly 

 around the joint. This is usually only on one side — generally 

 the inside. The foot is turned inwards, thereby causing the 

 horse to tread upon the outside of the hoof, which soon wears 

 down the shoe, and presses it towards the inside. In this case 

 the shoe should be much thicker on the outside, and should be 

 set full, and the hoof should be pared down on the inside. 

 When ring bones come on the forward feet, much may be done 

 by shoeing to favor the travel of the horse. 



Ox-Shoeing. — This subject demands more attention than is 

 generally given to it. Sometimes the sale of a yoke of oxen is 

 lost by bad shoeing, and I have known cattle to sweat in cold 

 weather by crippling on short shoes. It costs much more to 

 keep a pair of cattle in flesh that are poorly shod, besides much 

 loss of time on the road and use of the whip. 



No man is fit to shoe an ox who has not served a proper time 

 with a good workman. Even then he will have much to learn 

 — it is practice that makes perfect. The form of the shoe must 

 correspond with the rim or wall of the hoof. Many smiths 

 crook their shoes too much at the heel. When this is the case, 

 they turn the claws inwards, press them together, and cause 

 them to swell, producing inflammation between the claws, and 

 more or less fever in the whole foot. Shoes that are not punched 

 properly, cannot be set properly. If, for instance, a shoe is 

 punched under at the heel, it must be crowded out over the 

 edge of the hoof to prevent pricking the ox ; but if it is punched 

 standing- out, the nails will run up naturally, and the shoe be 

 retained in place. The hoof of the ox varies, as you nail round 

 from heel to toe, from standing out a little at the heel, to 

 straight in the centre and falling under at the toe. And to 

 correspond to this inequality, all shoes for oxen should be 

 punched. These can be set on in half the time, and much 

 better, too, than shoes that are improperly fitted. 



