64 HOKSE AND MAX. 



The blood is continually forced into the hoof for the 

 purpose of doing its work ; but there is very little 

 work to be done, so that the blood cannot be carried 

 out of the hoof by the veins as fast as it is pumped 

 in through the arteries. 



Consequently, the smaller vessels become gorged, 

 and the flow of blood impeded. Gradually, conges- 

 tion comes on, which before long developes into in- 

 flammation. Then, the semi stagnant and inflamed 

 blood reaches such a stage that decomposition sets 

 in, and the blood which ought to have passed 

 through the circulation in a natural manner is forced 

 to make its exit in the form of pus, the aperture 

 which it makes for itself being a sort of safety- valve 

 not only for the hoof, but for the whole circulatory 

 system. 



By the way, the word ' founder,' which is applied 

 to any disease of the sensitive laminas when it has 

 advanced sufficiently far to lame the horse, is a 

 curious example of the ignorance which seems to be 

 the invariable inheritance of those who have most 

 to do with horses. It is a corruption of the French 

 wordfondre, signifying to melt, and was used because 

 the farriers believed that the fat of the horse melted 

 out of his body, and ran down his leg into his 

 hoofs ! 



A corresponding version of the same word is a 



