THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 127 



I have seen cases of this disease in horses fresh from the 

 country and in animals which have never been shod. The 

 treatment that I have advised Avill insure a noticeable im- 

 provement in from -four to six weeks. Fig*. 72 represents a 

 foot shod with a tip, and with quarter, heel and frog- bear- 

 ing* on the ground. — By F. G. ~ 



Favors Spreading for Contraction. 



My method of treating tender or contracted feet is as 

 follows : ~ As soon as the frost is out of the ground re- 

 move the winter shoe and pare the foot all it will bear, espe- 

 cially at the heel. Scrape and cut the horn from the 

 sole around the frog, and press on the sole Avitli the thumb 

 until it gives under the pressure. The braces must never be 

 cut very much, and the frog should not be cut at all. A 

 flat shoe with a very low toe calk and no heel calks is 

 then put on and the insides of the heels are clipped 

 nearl}" to a point. Make the shoe to cover the foot well, 

 never use a short shoe and have the nail holes slant 

 inwards. 



Don't hew^ the foot down to fit the shoe, but alwavs 

 make the shoe to suit the foot. At the heel the shoe should 

 be I of an inch wider than the foot. From the point of the 

 frog to the heel (inside) the shoe should have an advantage 

 of ^ of an inch in height. To measure this correctly 

 apph' a straightedge or square to the bottom of the 

 shoe. Then, with the aid of a pair of tongs and a helper, 

 spread the foot out to the full width of the shoe at the 

 heel and keep it there until the nails are in at the heel. 

 Use small nails and do not draw too tight. The object 

 is to bring the frog on the ground. With superflu- 

 ous horn, etc., all removed and a shoe fitted concave. 



