SIMPLE CASES OF CONTRACTION. 27 



the common symptoms of contraction, and 

 can be entirely cured with the greatest ease ; 

 nor will it ever recur if the hoof is kept in 

 proper condition. 



If the case is recent, shoe as advised in our 

 paragraph upon " Incipient Unsoundness," 

 being sure to cut the heel well down, putting 

 the bearing fully upon the frog and three_ 

 quarters of the foot. If the hoof is weak 

 from long contraction and defective circula- 

 tion, lower the heels and whole wall, until the 

 frog comes well upon the ground, and shoe 

 with a " slipper," or "tip," made by cutting 

 off a light shoe just before the middle calk, 

 drawing it down and lowering the toe-calk 

 partially. This will seem dangerous to those 

 who have not tried it, but it is not so. The 

 horse may flinch a little at first, from his un- 

 accustomed condition, and from the active life 

 that will begin to stir in his dry, hard, and 

 numb foot, but he will enjoy the change. 

 The healing of the crack will be from the 

 coronet down, and it is good practice to cut 

 with a sharp knife just above the split, and to 

 clean all dirt and dead substance out from the 



