^m SKELETOIT. ?3 



walls of the hoof. Sucli horses are unfit for any- 

 work, as the sole becomes very thin, causing the 

 animal great pain at step. Such poor sufferers 

 ought to be shot for mercy's sake. 



Contracted Feet. While the sole of the sound 

 front hoof has a somewhat round shape, the con- 

 tracted hoof has shrunken, presenting an irregular 

 oval shape narrowed in at the heels, the inner wall 

 of the hoof looking as if crushed in. It is produced 

 by inflammation, arising from various causes, but, in 

 most cases, by bad shoeing. The frog becomes nar- 

 row and hard and has an unhealthy appearance. 

 Contracted feet produce corns and frequently con- 

 siderable lameness. 



