ON SHOEING. 63 



the natural fluid which it secretes, in this part, 

 in great abundance, from the fatty substance 

 which lies immediately under the aponeurosis 

 of the flexor tendon. This accumulation of 

 fluid, at length, makes its escape through the 

 fissure of the frog and heels, and acquires, by 

 exposure to the atmosphere, a fetid smell, and 

 an acrimonious quality sufficient to erode tlie 

 adjacent parts. In this state the frog becomes 

 so sore and irritable, as not to endure pressure 

 without a very painful sensation. But the mis- 

 chief does not terminate here. The frog natu- 

 rally constitutes a point of resistance to the 

 heels, and in conjunction with the bars of the 

 hoof, prevents them from approaching eacli 

 other; but when it is thus destroyed by disease, 

 it no longer performs that office, and the heels 

 consequently contract and produce an incurable 

 lameness. Hence, the necessity of counter- 

 acting this disease in its infancy, must be suf> 

 ficiently evident. 



The 



