86 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



casioning inflammatory action, and consequent ten- 

 derness and contraction, is understood by very few 

 smiths, and too little regarded by many veterinary 

 surgeons. I believe that Mr. Woodin, to whom I 

 have occasion to refer elsewhere as a veterinarian of 

 great skill, was the first to suggest this method of 

 shoeing, and the illustration it afi"ords of the elasticity 

 of the foot. I received it from the late Professor 

 Coleman ; but I have since understood that the credit 

 is due to Woodin, and I gladly take this opportunity 

 of acknowledging many useful hints with which he 

 has favored me. 



I will now proceed to those marked and visible 

 defects of which any man of common understanding 

 may easily make himself a competent judge ; at least 

 to such an extent as may guard him from gross 

 imposition. 



If it appears that towards the heels, the semi-cir- 

 cular line becomes suddenly straight, and the sides 

 of the foot abruptly approach each other, it may be 

 injFerred that the heels are contracted. In these 

 cases the natural position of the foot is partially 

 changed ; the hoof becomes more upright, the sole of 

 the foot descends, and the horse is commonly called 



