CONTRACTION. 155 



mine whether or not it is of such a nature as to render the 

 horse unserviceable, as this can only be ascertained by his 

 action and manner of placing his feet on the ground while 

 in progressive motion. When contraction first commences, 

 it is for the most part accompanied by a slight degree of 

 lameness ; and when it is making rapid advancement, it is 

 always attended with lameness, but it does not invariably 

 exist when the process of wiring in is slow, or is of long 

 standing. 



Causes. — If the owners of studs would look carefully 

 into their general stable management, their horses would be 

 afflicted with fewer diseases, and many of them would be 

 prevented or ameliorated by a little personal attention to 

 the stable. One of the chief causes of contraction in the 

 hoofs is neglect of paring. The crust of the hoof, like all 

 otlier horny parts of the animal system, is continually grow- 

 ing, and consequently lengthens, while the sole becomes 

 thicker. As Nature never intended that horses should be 

 shod, this is a beautiful provision for the wear and tear of 

 the hoofs. But when the hoof is protected by a shoe, it is 

 prevented from being worn down by the friction of coming 

 in contact with the ground ; the consequence is, that the 

 hoof gets high in front, and the sole becomes thick as the 

 expansion and descent of the sole and heel are interrupted, 

 and thus contraction is induced. To obviate this the smith 

 ought carefully to pare the sole and lower the heel each 

 time the horse is shod. No doubt the thinning of the sole 

 is attended with considerable labour, and without this is 

 attended to, lowering of the heels cannot be accomplished, 

 so that in avoiding the first both are neglected. In many 

 instances, however, a prejudice is entertained by owners of 

 horses that cutting away the hoof is injurious. Certainly, 

 mischief may be done by overdoing cutting, and by carrying 



