SUOETNG. 



41 



tween the bars and 

 frog sufficiently to 

 allow of some elas- 

 ticity of the quar- 

 ters, then fit the 

 heels nicely to the 

 bearing surface of 

 the shoe. In doing 

 this, care should be 

 taken to leave therri 

 sufficiently deep to 

 enable matching 

 the bevel of the 

 shoe nicely without 

 cutting away or 

 lowering the wall 

 too much. No horn 

 should be left pro- 

 jecting inside, as it 

 would form a wall 

 against the inner 

 edge of the shoe, 

 and prevent the heels from spreading. Of course, no nails should 

 be driven back in the quarters. As before explained, the frog 

 should gradually be given contact with the ground. As the quar- 

 ters are opened, the shoe can be taken off, made larger, and reset, 

 until the foot is reasonably expanded, when a level bearing-surface 

 may again be used. 



But for anything like a bad condition 

 of contraction, more direct and positive 

 treatment will be necessary. For ex- 

 ample, if the foot is badly contracted, 

 the frog small, and sole forced upward 

 acutely, the whole internal structure, 

 in fact, locked and tied, as it were, by 

 the severe compression of the wall, 

 three conditions are necessary : First, 

 complete elasticity of quarters and sole ; 

 second, power to open quarter so as to 

 relieve pressure, and allow the sole to 

 settle back to its natural position ; third, 

 gradual frog-pressure so as to restore a 



Fig. 494. — A Dried Hoof with Frog Removed. 



Fig. 495.— The Frog. 



