180 On the General Treatment of the Feet. 



case where the animal has been shod for a considerable period of 

 time. On the contrary, I cannot help agreeing with Mr. Clark, and 

 reluctantly adding the testimony of my dear-bought experience to his, 

 that this practice is frequently productive of infinite mischief, by in- 

 ducing fresh derangements of the living parts, which did not exist in 

 such feet, before they were placed in their new predicament. 



But, lest it may be supposed that I reprobate altogether, the plan 

 of turning Horses out to grass without shoes, I must observe that I 

 perfectly coincide in opinion with this gentleman, in admitting that 

 it may be had recourse to occasionally, with advantage, when it is 

 intended to keep them out for a few days only, or at most a few 

 weeks. 



But, even in this case, provided they be turned into grass which 

 is very luxuriant, or into ground that is low and swampy, 1 confess I 

 am by no means quite satisfied, whether it would not, upon the whole, 

 be more politic to let the shoes remain on during the time they are 

 out, taking care to remove them often enough to prevent their get- 

 ting into the interior edge of the crust, or (as the Farrier's phrase 

 is) eating into the Feet. If, however, the popular prejudice which 

 exists on this point, and which long established custom too often gives 

 rise to, in the most candid minds, should lead to a perseverance in 

 the practice of stripping the Feet of Horses, that are intended to be 

 kept a long time at grass, yet, some may, perhaps, be induced to 

 refrain from having them shod for eight or ten days after they are 

 taken into the stable, which will be one means of mitigating the evils 

 which too commonly result from the ordinary practice. 



