DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 157 



in filing away the gelatine coating that forms on the 

 outside of a healthy hoof, is also to be deprecated, as 

 it removes the natural protection against excessive evap- 

 oration. Opening up of the heels is also a great cause 

 of curling in of the heels, for if the horn was not re- 

 moved, it would tend to act as a wedge to prevent the 

 curling inward. 



Symptoms. A pointing of the contracted foot is usu- 

 ally an early symptom, as is also a gradual curling in of 

 the heels of the hoof toward the frog. If lame, the 

 lameness is usually most severe when first coming out 

 of the stable. 



Treatment. Should be both preventive and curative. 

 To prevent contraction, colts and horses should not be 

 kept in stables for days at a time where the floors are of 

 dry boards. The hoof requires exercise and soft, but 

 clean boards. This has especial reference to young 

 farm horses that do not wear shoes. The application 

 of DR. HEARD'S HOOF LINIMENT is an excellent preventive 

 of the dryness and brittlerress that leads to contraction. 

 Proper shoeing is also a preventive. The kind of shoe 

 which most frequently causes contraction is that in which 

 the outer rim of the heel is higher than the inside. The 

 heels in this case will be pressed inward toward the 

 frog at each step the horse takes. I have seen many 

 shoes made and fitted with this evident defect. The 

 bearing of the shoe at the heel should be perfectly lev- 

 el, if it is meant to be applied to a healthy foot. 



Curative Measures. Various devices have been in- 

 vented to spread contracted heels, one of the most sim- 

 ple being an instrument which works on the principal 

 of the jack screw. As to the efficiency of this instrument 

 as an expander there is no doubt, but its use is founded 



