C36 3 



part of the hoof, and as it gains this hardness by 

 losing its spongy nature, it becomes of course 

 less capable of breaking the blow, and of pre- 

 venting the jar from being communicated to the 

 parts above. 



As therefore it appears » that the frog may 

 become too soft or too hard, from too Httle or 

 too much pressure, it follows, that pressure in 

 some degree is necessary to keep it in health. 

 And although it is scarcely possible to ascertain 

 what degree is best suited to this end, and the 

 discussion of this point would afford ground for 

 much speculation, yet the knowledge of the in- 

 conveniencies which arise from the opposite ex- 

 tremes, has led to a practice equally distant from 

 both. This consists in the surface of the froo-, 

 when the foot is just shod, not being left on a 

 level with the lower surface of the shoe, but 

 rather a sixth part, or a quarter of an inch short 

 of it. And by attending to this simple rule, the 

 frog has been found to remain sound, without 

 becoming either very soft or very hard.* 



* Although this rule cannot immediately be applied to 

 all feet, yet it will admit of more general application, than 

 at first sight may appear probable; and with proper ma- 

 nagement, might in time be adopted in almost every in- 

 stance. 



