658 



OPEKATIONS ON THE FOOT. 



Fig. 507— Lafosse Desencasteleur. 



rod like an ordinary vice, in which form the branches are shorter, 

 and more power is obtained (Fig. 507). There are many other 

 improvements which we cannot mention for lack of sj)ace. 



Instead of applying the dilatation upon the hoof, and after- 

 ward using a shoe which is closely adapted to the dilatation thus 

 obtained, spreading shoes have been used. In the method of 

 Jarrier, the shoe has to maintain the hoof in the condition of 

 dilatation which has been accomplished by the instruments of ex- 

 pansion. It is a very dehcate and difficult operation, so far as the 

 jDroper dilatation of the foot is concerned, requiring the closest 

 adaptation between the clips of the shoe and the parts of the wall 

 upon which they rest. An error of a few millimetres only is suffi- 

 cient to defeat the desired result ; and the shoe, moreover, must 

 be taken off at each operation. To avoid this, special shoes, which 

 would act also as dilators, were invented. It was not, however, a 

 new idea; La Gueriniere had as early as 1733 prepared a shoe 

 composed of three pieces — one median, corresponding to the toe, 

 and two laterals, in connection with the quarters ; these latter are 

 respectively articulated with the first, and have each three nail- 

 holes. When this shoe was fixed upon a foot, whether unsoled 

 or not, its branches were spread apart by a plate left in place, and 

 by increasing by degrees the length of the plate, a gradual and 

 increasing dilatation of the hoof was obtained. Gaspard Saunier 

 improved upon this shoe by placing on the internal border of the 

 branches, cranks, with a plate placed crosswise and resting upon 

 them (Figs. 508 and 508a). The objection to this shoe is that it 

 cannot remain on the foot except when the animal is at rest, as 

 when he is at work it soon becomes loosened ; besides which it is 

 difficult to make properly. 



