154 S H O E I N G. 



proof of its *'*' dryings feparating^ zxidifcalmg 

 away.'^ The fadt is not literally fo, as may- 

 be corrobrated by any judicious obferVer ac- 

 cuftomed to examine the feet of horfes with 

 the degree of accuracy and nice diftin(!l:ion, 

 neceffary \,o jiijiify or dif prove any opinion that 

 may be promulgated for public inveftigation 

 or improvement. It is a matter too well known 

 to admit of momentary cavil, that the foot, by 

 being permitted to remain too long in its na- 

 tural ftate without redudtion, acquires in its 

 feveral parts the appearance of deformity; 

 the hoof grows long, narrow, and weak ; the 

 foky as he fays, feparates, (but in part only) 

 and comes way in partial scales, leaving 

 a rough, hard, uneven furface oi cavities and 

 frojcBions ; the frog becoming bruifed, rag- 

 ged, and putrefied, even to different degrees 

 of lamenefs. This being the exadl reprefen- 

 tation of a foot left to growth in a rude and 

 unimproved ftate, the propriety or impro- 

 priety of judicioully parirg each part, to pro- 

 mote a correfponding firmnefs, and preferve 

 the neceflary uniformity, can never become 

 the fubjedt of difputation, but among thofe 

 whofe intellectual faculties are abforbed in 



fuch 



