86 PRACTICAL HORSESHOEING. 



them in a healthy condition, and competent to supply- 

 fresh material for wear. 



The destruction of this band, and the rasping of the 

 fibres beneath it, is detrimental to the healthy secretion 

 of the wall-fibres, and leads to the same result that par- 

 ing the sole was shown to do : shrinking of the horn- 

 tubes containing the tufts of vessels, wasting of these, a 

 diminished supply of horny material in consequence, and 

 a thin brittle wall that scarcely appears to grow down 

 at all in depth or thickness, and barely allows a shoe 

 to be attached to it. Sandcrack and other diseased 

 conditions of this part of the hoof are mainly due to this 

 cause. 



After applying the shoe in the manner we have de- 

 scribed, and laying down the clenches evenly on the wall 

 of the hoof, no more requires to be done, unless perhaps 

 it be to round a little more the edg;e of the narrow shreds 

 of horn, that may project on each side of Ihe clip, and 

 thus prevent their liability to split. The angle of the 

 face of the hoof should never be interfered with after the 

 shoe is nailed on, but should be the same fnpm top to bot- 

 tom as in the natural state. This is a matter of great 

 importance. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the 

 preservation of the horn of the hoof in its integrity. No 

 amount of rasping or artificial" treatment can give the 

 hoof the beautiful polish it has in its natural state. 



Layiyig down Clips. — At this stage, it is usual to ap- 

 ply the clip or clips more exactly and evenly to the. hoof 

 before completing the operation of shoeing ; and even 

 this apparently trifling matter demands care. With gradu- 

 ally decreasing blows of the shoeing hammer, each clip 

 should be applied close to the hoof, commencing at the 

 bottom, where it springs from the shoe, and ascending to 

 its point. Clips should never be driven tight into the 

 hoof; this is injurious and may induce disease. 



