63 ON SHOEING, 



mal, except it is brouglit on as a critical termi- 

 nation of some other disease. 



Quadrupeds are not subject to periodical 

 discharges, such as menstruation or hacmorroidal 

 fluxes, and in this instance they are more per- 

 fect in their ceconomy than the human being. 

 The frog, in its healthy state, is a firm elastic 

 substance, somewhat softer than the rest of the 

 hoof. The form of it clearly points out its use, 

 viz. to give stability to the foot, to serve as a 

 basis for the flexor tendon of the leg, and to 

 furnish elasticity to the posterior part of the 

 hoof. 



But the common method of shoeing would 

 lead to a supposition, that not one of these pro- 

 perties belonged to the part in question, and 

 hence the intention of nature is frustrated 

 in every instance. The frog being, by thick 

 heeled shoes, deprived of pressure against the 

 ground, becomes soft, from the accumulation of 



the 



