48 PRACTICAL HORSESHOEING. 



other part requires to be efficiently shielded — is at once 

 ruthlessly denuded of its protection, and exposed to the 

 most serious injury. The immature* horn, suddenly strip- 

 ped of its outer covering, immediately begins to experi- 

 ence the evil effects of external influences ; it loses its 

 moisture, dries, hardens, and shrivels up ; it also occupies 

 a smaller space, and in doing so, the sole becomes more 

 concave, drawing after it the wall — for it must be remem- 

 bered that the sole is a strong stay against contraction 

 of the lower margin of the hoof — and the consequence 

 is, that the foot gradually decreases in size, and the quar- 

 ters and heels narrow. The animal goes " tender," even 

 on smooth ground ; but if he chance to put his mutilated 

 sole on a stone, what pain must he experience ! This ten- 

 derness on even ground or smoothly paved roads arises 

 from the fact, that not only is the entire sensitive surface 

 compressed, irritated, or inflamed by the hard, contract- 

 ing envelope, and the unnatural exposure to sudden 

 changes of heat and cold, but the little sensitive processes 

 contained at the upper end of each of the horn-fibres are 

 painfully crushed in their greatly diminished tubes, and 

 instead of being organs of secretion and the most delicate 

 touch, they are now scarcely more than instruments of 

 torture to the unfortunate animal. Not only is pain or 

 uneasiness experienced during progression, but even in the 

 stable the horse whose soles have been so barbarously 

 treated, exhibits tenderness in his feet by resting them, 

 and if felt, a great increase of temperature will be per- 

 ceived. 



Owing to the secreting apparatus of the sole being 

 deranged through this senseless paring, the formation of 

 new horn takes place slowly, and it is not until a certain 

 quantity has been provided to compensate in some degree 

 for that removed, that the horse begins to stand easier, 

 and travel better. Scarcely, however, has the restorative 



