HORSESHOEING. 465 



if properly treated, it will gradually disappear, 

 and be displaced by a healthy growth of foot. 



The horse should be allowed at least a month 

 in which to recover from his lameness ; but it is 

 not necessary to turn him out to grass, and care 

 should be taken that his feet are closely attended 

 to, having the shoes renewed about once in a 

 fortnight. 



Contraction is the result of neglect, want of 

 natural moisture, and tight shoeing. The result 

 is lameness, if in one foot, and if in both feet, 

 the loss of their free, natural use, causing short 

 steps and stumbling. If the inner quarter is 

 contracted, it is the cause, if not soon remedied, 

 of quarter-crack. The practice of fitting a shoe 

 so as to fit tighter on the inner than the outer 

 quarter, to prevent interfering, renders it more 

 liable to contraction. 



The want of proper moisture causes the horn 

 to shrink, and prevents the foot from expanding 

 naturally. This should be remedied by soaking 

 the feet, if feverish, in warm, and if healthy, in 

 cold water, twice a day, an hour at each time. 



