382 



The Country Gentleman' s Magazine 



series of fibres or tubes, firmly attached to 

 each other by an inteivening texture of horn. 

 The ends of these tubes are ahvays presented to 

 the ground, and thus are enabled to resist 

 wear much longer than if their sides were 

 placed in that position. The direction of 

 the fibres at the toe is remarkable also : it is 

 oblique or downwards and forwards, and thus 

 the foot acts as a wedge on the ground, which 

 is most usefully taken advantage of during 

 rapid movement and sudden stoppages. 

 Other peculiarities consist in exceeding 

 toughness and firmness, giving due protection 

 to exquisitely sensitive structures within, and 

 these are mainly due to a secretion thrown 

 over the outer surface from the coronet, 

 which makes the hoof waterproof, and 

 enables it to" resist the action of sharp stones 

 and even sharper knives. This enamel is 

 carefully rasped away by the farrier at every 

 shoeing, because he is not acquainted with 

 its origin and purpose. The hoof, then, 

 teadily imbibes moisture and swells, by 

 which nails are disturbed and shoes loosened; 

 and when subsequently dried, it contracts, 

 and with the action of the feet with the loose 

 nails and shoes, pieces are split oft" and shoes 

 lost. 



The lower or ground surface of the hoof 

 called the sole, is secreted from a substance 

 within, called, in contra-distinction, the sensi- 

 tive sole, but is formed in flakes or layers, 

 and these from time to time desquamate or 

 fall off. No such property belongs to the 

 crust. This mode of reproduction in the 

 sole is eminently favourable to strength and 

 protection from stones, and so preserved, 

 the hoof never becomes dry and shrivelled, 

 but is firm, usefully hard and sufficiently 

 resiUent. But the smith cuts out all this at 

 each shoeing, and thus renders it weak, and 

 unable to bear local pressure ; besides it be- 

 comes dry and hard, and in that state 

 communicates jar and concussion to the 



bones within, disturbing the circulation and 

 setting up disease, and the animal soon 

 "knuckles over," and "goesstilty or groggy." 

 In its natural state the sole will bear great 

 pressure without injury, but when pared as 

 we describe, none can be borne, and corns 

 as well as other internal diseases are the in- 

 evitable result. It never should be pared, 

 as its own powers of exfoliation and main- 

 tenance are essential for every necessity. 



At the back of the foot, occupying a 

 triangular space in the sole, is the frog or 

 cushion. This is tough and flexible, and 

 is intended to meet the ground before any 

 other part of the foot. Many farriers do 

 not believe this, because they are not able to 

 prove the fact, and, moreover, not knowing 

 strictly what else the frog can be intended 

 for, diligently pare it away with the sole. It 

 is thus removed from proper function, dries 

 up, and becomes diseased, and the state 

 called "running thrush" is produced, for 

 which a remedy has to be paid for. The 

 only part of the hoof that requires reduction 

 by the knife is the lower or ground surface 

 of the wall. The sole and frog require no 

 further attention than to remove such por- 

 tions as are loose and ragged. If any system 

 of paring is practised, the end is, as we have 

 stated, destruction of the hoof and origin of 

 internal disease ; and, we all know that, in 

 our large towns where these results are so 

 common from the repetition of such uncalled 

 for vices at every shoeing, the necessity for 

 " leather soles and stopping " is occasioned. 

 These are the farrier's plasters which he ap- 

 plies as remedies for defects his own false 

 practices and unpardonable ignorance have 

 occasioned, and which occupy a conspicuous 

 position in the account, often so much to the 

 profit of unscrupulous grooms and coachmen 

 who always believe in their utility. Owners 

 of horses will, however, learn better bye-and- 

 bye. 



