EVILS OF COMMON SHOEING. 11 



chipping, and but little iron was uSed, but, as 

 the utility of the operation became apparent, 

 the smith boldly took the responsibility of 

 altering: the form of the hoof to suit his own 

 unreasoning views, cutting away, as super- 

 fluous, the sole and bars, paring the frog to 

 a shapely smoothness, and then nailing on a 

 broad, heavy piece of iron, covering not only 

 the wall but a portion of the sole also, thus 

 putting it out of the power of the horse to 

 take a natural, elastic step. 



In a short time the hoof, unbraced by the 

 sole and bars, begins to contract, the action of 

 the frog upon the ground, which in the nat- 

 ural foot is threefold — acting as a cushion to 

 receive the force of the blow and thus relieve 

 the nerves and joints of the leg from concus- 

 sion, opening and expanding the hoof by its 

 upward pressure, quickening the circulation 

 and thereby stimulating the natural secretions, 

 — this all important part of the organization, 

 without which there is no foot and no horse, 

 becomes hard, dry, and useless. Then fol- 

 lows the whole train of natural consequences. 

 The delicate system of joints inclosed in the 



