CHAPTER IX. 



THE FOOT ITS CARE AND SHOEING. 



The Hoof and its Contents. The importance of this 

 organ in animals cannot be overestimated, in the horse 

 especially are good feet needed; without good feet his 

 value is lessened according to the degree his work is 

 interfered with. While cattle, sheep and swine are not 

 used for draught purposes, yet they also should have 

 good feet, in order to render their getting to the feed 

 trough and market sure, and in those used for breeding, 

 to render them capable of performing that valuable func- 

 tion. The foot consisting of the hoof and its contents will 

 therefore be described, that of the horse being taken as 

 the type. Approaching the foot from the outside the 

 hoof is first reached, seemingly a continuation of the 

 skin, which it is. 



The hoof is divided into the 

 wall, sole and frog, the wall 

 being that part seen when the 

 foot is on the ground. The 

 wall is also divided into parts, 

 viz., the toe, quarters, heels, 

 bars, surfaces and borders. 

 The toe forms the front of the 

 hoof and is the deepest and 

 thickest part of the wall, pass- 



W of W cor ns 8 'Mh e etaV s fro i;c!ef?^ in g back Jt g rows shorter at 



the quarters, that part raid- 

 way between toe and heel, passing back still further the 



