THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 125 



the foot every nio*lit for at least a month. The shoeing* 

 should he repeated every fourth week. It will be observed 

 that in the center of the frog is a point called the V, which 

 in a contracted foot is ver^^ hard and sharp. Now when the 

 frog is pressed on the ground this V peneti^ates the foot 

 and forces it open just as a wedge would. The country 

 horse has broad, flat heels and hardl^^ any Y to enter the 

 frog. In some cases the horse may be lame for some time 

 after shoeing, but by keeping the f^et moist a cure will be 

 affected. 

 It must be remembered that the wall is the Aveakest near- 



Fig. 71 — Showing a Hoof -Bound Foot. 



est the heel, and at the frog nearest the coronet. Contract- 

 ed feet have, of course, hard, long and narrow frogs, 

 which are generally affected with a disease called thrush 

 or frog-rot. This is, however, easily cured by applying 

 salt and turpentine every two or three days or a week or 

 so — unless it breaks out above the hair, and then it is a case 

 for the veterinary surgeon. 



Hoof-bound feet are distinguished hy a ridge running 

 completely around the hoof, as shown in Fig. 71. The dis- 

 ease resembles contraction, except that the coronet is not 



