84 SCIENTIFIC JlUKSKSllOElNci. 



foliatiiiii" and dostituto of tlie iiatiu-al moisture and floxibilitv 

 that exist in a liealthv i,n'o\\tli. ami tlieii to rediu*e tlie wall to a 

 level with the untouched, healthy or sound sole. I aim to have 

 every part of the wall. Irom tlu* auii'le of the heels to the toe, 

 receive a good, broad, equal bearing- on the shoe, unless there is 

 some special reason for doing otherwise. With some feet, hav- 

 ing a stroma healthv growtli, this means a great deal of euttinii: 

 (especially if shoes have been worn, and worn a longtime) : then, 

 again, there are feet which re(|uirc very little reduction, hence, 

 the work must be done with constant and intelliijent reference 

 to the inclination of the pasterns as alretidy }>iescribed. Some- 

 times the hoof \\ill irrow all to toe. and aii^ain the izTowtli at the 

 heel will be more marked, or the foot niay be run over by hav- 

 ing one side too high or the toe worn off excessivel}'. To rectify 

 this, and to better its adjustment a good ]dan is to look at the 

 old shoe to see where it has worn most and Ite parti v ^-uided b\ 

 that. The point is to remove so nmch of the wall as would be 

 a surplus srrowth, or so much onlv as will briiiir it back to its 

 natural form and adjustment. And this after all must depend 

 u}>on the judgment, expertness, and ingenuity of the farrier, who 

 should, however, never lose sight of the fact that if the heels are 

 allowed to grow too high, an excessive strain is thrown upon the 

 bones, while if the toes are too long the tendons suffer in like 

 numner. The shai'p lower rim of the wall should be rounded- 

 off justa little to prevent splinters, and of course all stubs or 

 nails should be removed. 



Opening up the Heels. — Tlie junction of the wall with 

 the bars affords a firn\ natural bearing for the heel of the shoe, 

 and is to be rasped level with the wall and s<j low as to be ex- 

 actly even with the frog, Init the so-called process of " opening 

 up the heels " by removing the bars, is a most disastrous practice, 

 to be strictly avoided. The bars are the lateral braces and bind- 

 ers of the foot, and the arch which they form on either side 



