SHOEING. 171 



jrom their hold, but that the dinches prevent 

 their being withdrawn ; in this state the horse, 

 though not absolutely lame, limps in per-r 

 petual uneasiness, till the clinches of the nails 

 are so relaxed as to bring the centre nearly to 

 a level with the rest of the foot, y/here it 

 frequently forms an additional cause to the 

 original ill, by coming into close contact Avith 

 the sole, which, pressing upon with any de- 

 gree of severity, occasions a slight lameness 

 that becomes hnmediately pe-rcieptible. 



Another verv common cause of lameness 

 with horses of this description originates in 

 the shoes being formed too short and narrow 

 at the heel, by which means, in less than a 

 week's constant wear, the hpof (or '' crust," 

 some writers have termed it for the sake of 

 refinement) being also narrozv, the heels of 

 the shoes make gradual impression, and con- 

 stitute a palpable indentation upon the edge 

 of the sole directly over its articulation with 

 the hoof, producing to a certainty, if perse- 

 vered in, the foundation of corns or a tempo- 

 rary lameness, that js generally removed by 

 Removing the shoe^ 



