116 



THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



When lameness has disappeared, and the foot has been 

 sufficiently expended, it should he dressed carefully, going 

 the same height to the wall at all corresponding points on 

 the inner and outer sides, and paring heel and toe in proper 

 ratio with each other, the sole being left as far as possible 

 to come to the heel with the hoof wall at all points, and 

 furnish Avith it a surface of bearing for the shoe. 



The shoe should be perfectly loose and smooth, and when 

 applied should press evenly at all points. It should be 

 drawn only moderatel3^ tight, and on giving its final dress- 



Fig. 65 — Proper Way of Driving Nails. 



ing the use of the file should be as far as possible avoided. 

 The horn is formed of a series of pus tubes with an inter- 

 tubular cellular structure, and when the rasp or file is used 

 so as to expose the open ends of these tubules the contained 

 moisture exhales, the horn withers, and the soft parts may 

 be injuriously pressed upon. For this reason the use of 

 the file on the front of the hoof is to be severely deprecated. 

 It should only be used on the lower edge of the hoof wall, 

 where it projects over the shoe, and w^hen the sharp edges 

 might otherwise split up. For a similar reason the sole 



