OF FARRIERY. 



245 



is going: over them. Again, if the weatlier be 

 moist, and the soil damp, this keeps the feet 

 cool and moist ; and, of course, easy of ex- 

 pansion. 



Artificial heat has a great tendency to pro- 

 duce contraction, especially in hunting stables, 

 where Horses are kept in the highest con- 

 dition ; also, in racing stables, where the 

 Horses are kept on good dry litter, half way 

 up their legs, and every hole and crevice 

 stopped up to prevent the least air coming in, 

 the heat that is consequently generated, d.aes 

 up the hoof, and disposes it to contract. 



Heat also, applied by the shoeing smith, 

 w ill produce it, if not discontinued ; for heat, 

 as they apply it to the foot, has a different 

 tendency during the actual time they are 

 applying it, to the gradual continued heat of 

 the stable. Now moisture has a direct con- 

 trary effect to heat, its application greatly 

 tends to counteract the contractile disposition. 

 It also softens the hoof and enables the weight 

 of the . lorse to expand the foot ; but some- 

 times, from the extreme thickness of the hoof, 

 it will not even yield to moisture. In the 

 natural state, it is well known that the hoofs 

 must be accustomed to meet with consider- 

 able moisture, of which an artificial life pre- 

 vents them enjoying. A Horse confined to 

 the stable, frequently does not get his feet 

 moistened once a day ; but in a state of nature, 

 half their time the Horse's feet are exposed to 

 moisture, either from dew, or being immersed 

 in rivers, or ponds. Farmers' Horses are 

 much more benefited than many others, most 

 of them being generally turned out, and in 

 consequence less subject to this disease ; 

 though certainly the cutting away the frogs 

 and bars more than is necessary, is the prin- 

 cipal cause of contraction. Long standing in 



the stable will frequently produce it, and 

 especially in case one foot happens to be lame ; 

 this will frequently become contracted, shew- 

 ing at once pressure to be a preventative. 



I have pointed out the principal causes of 

 contraction, and its sequel, the navicular dis- 

 ease. I shall slightly touch upon the synnp- 

 toms ; then proceed to the treatment. The 

 hoof, in contraction, frequently becomes length- 

 ened, and the frog, instead of having that 

 fulness seen in the natural frog, appears 

 squeezed between the heels, as it is not unfre- 

 quently ruptured. All Horses' feet do not in 

 contraction become lengthened, but where the 

 heels are very weak, the inside heel may be 

 observed, on standing immediately behind the 

 Horse, to turn in remarkably sharp. When 

 this is the cas-e. Horsemen term it he'mg wired 

 in. Sometimes the contraction is principally 

 perceptible round the coronet ; but this arises 

 when the disease is subsequent to inflamed 

 feet, and the usual secretion at the coronet 

 goes on, but an unhealthy secretion becomes 

 set up ; but this is not a common case, aa 

 contraction generally begins below. 



The hind feet are seldom, or never verv 

 liable to contraction, and when that does take 

 place, it is not attended with those serious 

 consequences, as when the disease attacks the 

 fore-feet, little attention being required to re- 

 store them. 



Dealers' Horses are very liable to contrac- 

 tion, from being removed from the farmers' 

 cooling pasture ; then travelling, perhaps from 

 one hundred to a hundred and fifty miles, 

 and immediately placed in a hot staWe. 

 These Horses, if their feet are not kept moist, 

 are sure to go lame in the course of a weeks 

 time. From the causes before detailed, con- 

 tracted hoofs are almost always occasionea, 

 3q 



