THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 105 



cutting", but after the foot is properl}^ prepared to apply the 

 hot shoe for a moment, then remove and use the knife to 

 remove the inequaUties. Then apph' the shoe until the 

 whole surface has been seared, and this takes but an instant's 

 application of the hot shoe. If the foot has been properly 

 prepared, and the shoe is of the rig-lit size and shape, we 

 shall have that most desirable thing — a perfect fit, but more 

 important than even that, we shall by the hot iron have 

 closed the poi'es of the horn and thus prevented the escape 

 of the moisture which nature provides for this living- struc- 

 ture. I want to emphasize this fact that the hoof is a living- 

 structure, nourished and supplied with all that is necessary 

 for its growth and health from the inside ; that is, in a 

 health^^ foot. In the case of the animal runnmg m the field 

 without shoes, the hoof is worn or bruised olf, keeping- the 

 pores closed, upon the same plan upon Avhicli the ecraseur 

 operates in severing- blood vessels ; but in cutting* the hoof 

 we leave these pores exposed, and the nearer we cut to the 

 sensitive parts the greater number we expose, the more 

 moisture will escape, and the g-reater injury we shall in- 

 flict. 



Now just here the best reason for ^'hot fitting-" comes in. 

 B}^ touching lightl}^ the cut surface we seal up the avenues 

 by which moisture escapes, and thus prevent the drying of 

 the horn. This theory can be easily tested. Let anyone 

 take the knife and rasp and pare the foot in the ordinary 

 way and fit the shoe cold, and then take another foot of the 

 same animal and pare and fit the shoe hot, and after the 

 lapse of a few hours remove the shoes. The burned hoof 

 will have a hard, thin crust upon it, amd just under this it 

 will be as moist as Avhen cut, but the other one will be found 

 hard and dry for a considerable depth. 



This burning counteracts the evil of the unnatural process 

 of cutting the hoof. 



