CHAPTER XI. 



SnOEING, AND DISEASES AND INJURIES OF THE FOOT. 



Ix order to understand the general principles of shoeing, a 

 glance at the different parts of the hoof is necessary. The 

 " wall " is that portion which surrounds the foot, and is alone 

 seen when this is placed on the ground. It is fibrous in 

 structure, the fibres passing from above to below, as they grow 

 from where the skin terminates. Externally, these fibres are 

 dense and resisting, but those nearer the interior gradually 

 become soft and spongy. The growth of the wall is indefinite, 

 it being the part Avhich has to sustain wear through contact 

 with the ground. 



When the foot is lifted, the sole and the frog are seen on 

 its lower or ground surface. The "sole" is usually more or 

 less concave in a healthy foot. It is fibrous, like the wall, its 

 fibres passing in the same direction ; but they are much softer, 

 and their growth is definite, they breaking off in the form of 

 flakes when they have attained a certain length. The " frog" 

 is a triangular mass of somewhat soft and elastic fibrous horn, 

 situated at the posterior part of the sole. Like that part, its 

 fibres are also of definite growth, and flake off in large patches 

 from time to time. 



The wall sustains weight and wear on all kinds of ground ; 

 the sole is adapted for sustaining weight, on soft ground more 

 particularly; while the frog has a most important use in 

 acting as a cushion to support the powerful tendon which 

 flexes the limb, in diminishing j ar, and in preventing slipping. 



