320 THE HORSE. 



the contraction or swelling of the felt or leather from the efiect of nnoisture 

 or dryness will soon render the attachment of the shoe less firm; there will 

 be too much play upon the nails; the nail-holes will enlarge, and the crust 

 will be broken away. 



After wounds or extensive bruises of the sole, or where the sole is thin 

 and flat and tender, it is sometimes covered with a piece of leather, fitted 

 to tlie sole, and nailed on with the shoe. This may be allowed as a 

 temporary defence of the foot; but there is the same objection to its 

 permanent use from the insecurity of fastening, and the strain on the 

 crust, and the frequent chipping of it: and there are these additional 

 inconveniences, that if the hollow between the sole and the leather be filled 

 with stopping and tow, it is exceedingly difficult to introduce them so evenly 

 and accurately as not to produce some partial or injurious pressure; that 

 a few days' work will almost invariably so derange the padding as to pro- 

 "duce partial pressure; that the long contact of the sole with stopping of 

 almost every kind will produce, not a healthy, elastic horn, but horn of a 

 scaly, spongy nature; and that, if the hollow be not thus filled, gravel and 

 dirt will insinuate themselves, and cause unequal pressure, and eat into 

 and injure the foot. 



CHAPTER XVIII 



OPERATIONS. 



These belong more to the veterinary surgeon than to the proprietor of the 

 horse, but a short account of the manner of conducting the principal ones 

 should not be omitted. 



It is frequently necessary to bind the human patient, and in no painful 

 or dangerous operation should this preliminary be omitted. It is more 

 necesijary to bind the horse, who is not under the control of reason, and 

 whose struggles may not only be injurious to himself, but dangerous to the 

 operator. 



Tlie /rev/s is a machine indispensable to every continental forge; even 

 the quietest horses are there put into it to be shod. It is found in many of 

 our country forges, and is occupied by horses that cannot otherwise be shod 

 without manifest danger to the smith. It seldom, however, finds a place 

 in our improved forges, although it would be useful for docking, firing, 

 and many other purposes. The horse is confined within enormous bars of 

 wood, and slung there, but many have been destroyed in their determined 

 resistance to such restraint. 



The side-line is a very simple and useful method of confining the horse, 

 and places him in sufficient subjection for the operations of docking, 

 nicking, and slight firing. The long line of the hobbles, or a common cart, 

 rope with a noose at the end, is fastened on the pastern of one hind-leg. 

 The rope is then brought over the neck and round the withers, and there 

 lied to the portion that comes from the leg. The leg may thus be drawn 

 so far forward, that while the horse evidently cannot kick with that leg, he 

 ii, disarmed of tlie other; for he would not have sufficient support under 

 him if he attempted to raise it. Neither can he easily use his fore-legs, or, 

 if he attempts to use them, one of them may be lifted up, when he becomes 

 nearly powerless. If necessary, the aid of the twitch or the barnacltiS. 

 may be resorted to. 



