470 CHAPTER 62. 



between the two hind feet is the almost sure and certain sign of disease, 

 either past or present, in the foot or in some part of the limb directly 

 or indirectly connected with it, or of some irregularity of action. 



There are, however, some few families of thorough-bred horses which 

 are notorious for having odd fore-feet, and yet seldom go lame on them. 



, 956a. Malformed Feet. 



Malformed feet, if congenital, such as " Fleshy " feet, which have 

 abnormally thin walls and thick soles ; or in some cases " Club " feet, 

 *. e. one more upright than the other, are not necessarily unsound, though 

 under certain conditions they may speedily become so. " Mule " feet, 

 which are the result of rearing on very dry or rocky soils, will stand 

 wear, but are objectionable in horses, such as hunters, which are required 

 to go in deep ground. 



957. Contraction and Expansion of the Foot. 



The question of the contraction and expansion of the foot has long been 

 a subject of keen discussion among Veterinarians. Three different views 

 are held. 



1st. That the foot expands on coming to the ground by reason of the 

 weight and pressure imposed on it ; and contracts when it is raised off 

 the ground. 



2nd. That the foot contracts on coming to the ground by reason of 

 the weight and pressure imposed on it ; and expands when raised off the 

 ground. 



3rd. That the foot neither expands nor contracts to any perceptible 

 degree. 



This latter view I believe to be correct. No doubt there is a certain 

 degree of elasticity in the horn, as in all living structures, but not suffi- 

 cient to constitute expansion or contraction. 



It has been often remarked that there is in general a bright mark on 

 the upper surface of the shoe towards the heels, which is by many sup- 

 posed to be due to the effect of contraction and expansion at that part. 

 These marks, however, it may be noticed, run along the web of the shoe 

 and not from side to side, as would be the case if they were due to 

 expansion and contraction. They are in reality caused by the backwards 

 and forwards motion of the heels of the shoe, which is produced by the 

 leverage at the toe when the horse is in motion. There are no such 

 bright marks on the quarters of the shoe where the effect of contraction 

 and expansion, if it existed, would surely show itself, inasmuch as the 

 greatest weight and pressure falls on that part of the foot. 



958. Conclusion. 



I have now said all that I conceive to be necessary for maintaining the 

 health of the foot in the shod horse. 



Other cognate subjects remain which are of much interest, such as the 



