244 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



mentioned that the small pastern rested on 

 the navicular-bone ; now, in consequence of 

 the confinement of these bones, their action is 

 not free, and the lower end of the small pas- 

 tern-bone chafing against the navicular-bone, 

 inflammation is set up, and the Horse goes 

 lame. However, it unfortunately happens the 

 poor animal is still doomed to (especially if a 

 harness-horse) suffer until the inflammation 

 runs so high, that the absorbents commence 

 their work, by removing the fine membrane 

 the navicular-bone is covered with, and absorb 

 the gristly covering also. The inflammation 

 still being kept up, the bone becomes affected, 

 and caries, or mortification may take place ; 

 and then you have the navicular disease in 

 perfection. A remedy for this we must en- 

 deavour to lay before our readers, so that 

 they may prevent such a painful disease 

 running to its full extent ; for we would rather 

 alleviate in the early stage of a disease, than 

 botch up a Horse to please any one. 



I have endeavoured to explain the nature 

 of the two diseases, contracted feet, and their 

 consequences. I believe I also said, that bad 

 shoeing was their principal cause, and I still 

 maintain this to be correct ; though in going 

 over our subject, we shall in all probability 

 mention others of a minor nature. 



The old fashioned method of preparing and 

 rasping the feet of Horses, I may say, has 

 occasioned more lameness than any one thing 

 again ; for what with paring the frogs away, 

 and opening the heels, as it is termed, with 

 scarcely touchino' the sole of the foot, was 

 enough to produce contraction ; added to 

 which, the benefit of a very high-heeled shoe. 

 These means, with a little thought, will im- 

 mediately explain to the experienced Horse- 

 man, why the feet become contracted. 



Owners of Horses are sometimes to blame 

 in not having their Horse's feet pared often 

 enough. If the Horse should wear his shoes 

 rather light, they will let him go as long as 

 six weeks without paring, and even longer; 

 not thinking of the injury they are doing the 

 foot, by its improper growth during that time. 

 No man should let his Horse go, without 

 removing the shoes, longer than a fortnight, 

 and new shoes every month. You then have 

 an opportunity both of examining and paring 

 out the feet properly, and watching their pro- 

 gress, that they do not grow out of form ; but 

 the custom of nailing the shoes on so exceed- 

 ingly tight, and particularly where the crust 

 is not strong, must affect the feet, and prevent 

 the ordinary expansion. 



Shoes of a bad form are very hurtful, ex- 

 cept it be for slow working cart-horses, and 

 which are to be met with of all shapes. 



Thick-heeled shoes are sometimes the 

 cause of contraction, but I have seen thin- 

 heeled shoes produce it, by constantly bearing 

 too much on the frog ; still a moderate bear- 

 ing on the frog is highly necessary. But 

 there are so many strange feet go through the 

 hands of a smith, that it is next to an impossi- 

 bility, imless he be a clever fellow, to know 

 what kind of shoe to adapt generally. 



I have read of authors wondering how it 

 was, that farm-horses had such fine open feet, 

 when they are the worst shod, and mostly 

 with high calkins. Now, I think the matter 

 is easily solved, and that is, their feet are kept 

 open from pressure from below ; for though 

 they may have high calkins, and the frog con- 

 siderably cut away, it is forgotten that the 

 rough land they have to plough, or harrow, 

 perhaps is in balls, the size of large potatoes, all 

 acting as so many expanders, while the Horse 



