SHOEING. 175 



deftroy its elaftic property, forming a hardnefs 

 from its abundance, that may painfully prefs 

 upon the tender part it is defigned to defend. 



It has long been an eftablilhed practice 

 after drawing a corn ; an injury fuftained in 

 any part of the hoof, caufing a partial defecft 

 or a difeafed ftate of the frog, as inveterate 

 thrufb, &c. to protect the part with a bar-fioe 

 formed and adapted to fach purpofe : this is 

 certainly a conditional fecurity, but there is 

 ftill a fpace between the foot and the fioe to 

 receive and retain any fubftance, that may be- 

 come injurious by its lodgment and painful 

 preflure as before-mentioned. To prevent 

 the poffibility of Vv^hich I fliould always re- 

 commend (in cafes that require it) the infinu- 

 ation of a fufficient quantity of tow to fill up 

 the interftice j and that its retention there 

 might be rendered a matter of greater cer- 

 tainty, it ihould be w^ell impregnated w^th a 

 portion oi diachylon with the gums ^ firfl: melted 

 over the fire; this will not only fill up the 

 opening with neatnefs (properly managed) but 

 form a boljier of cafe to the part, and exclude 

 to a certainty the admiffion of articles we 

 have juft defcribed. 



The 



