AS TO SOUNDNESS. 65 



LECTURE IX. 



Evils of Calkins— Evils of Paring and so Weakening the Sole- 

 Flat Soles— Degrees of Flatness — Positive Flatness and Seedy 

 Toe — Low Heels — Calkined Heels— Knuckling Fore Legs— A 

 Horse with Low Heels may be Quite Sound — Long Toes and 

 Sprain on Back Tendons — Pasterns Short and Upright — Toes 

 Out-turned — Brushing — In-turned Toes, Digging and Stumbling 

 — The Unnerved Foot. 



Gentlemen, — The conclusions at which we arrived at 

 our last meeting lead to practical results of the highest 

 value, and although they have been empirically well 

 known since, and before, tlie days of St. Bel, known 

 alike in our ranks, among horse owners and shoeing- 

 smiths, yet they have led to no higher results than those 

 degrading sights of lame ambling horses, which are to be 

 witnessed in any street in this or any other town of Great 

 Britain. Although shoeing-smiths do not know that 

 the focus or centre of weight ought to be kept well above 

 the ground surface of the foot for the reasons we have 

 just exemplified, yet practically they know it, and yet 

 take no pains to accomplish it, but on the contrary use 

 means to tilt up the heels by wedge shoes and calkins. 



5 



