188 NEW MODK DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



Ml R. B. Teast recommends a construction of the foot surface, that seems 

 rory well calcuhted to attain his object, the preventing contraction and amend- 

 ing the several evils arising therefrom, by raising a ndge along the whole ex 

 tent of the shoe so far as the heels, exclusively, thus making an inclined plane 

 outwards of the thickness of the wall or crust of the hoof. The punching 

 and nailing takes j)lace at this ndge, thus affording secure driving for the nails, 

 and a safe hold upon the iron. Withinside, the shoe is convex on both sur- 

 faces, but admits of modification, at will, on the ground surface. The hoof 

 must be prepared to receive this form by paring away the horn lower on the 

 inner part than on the outer side, or external edge of the wall ; in fine, so as 

 to corresjjond with the form of the shoe. At least, this is what I understand 

 in the course of reading a series of very obscurely written "Practical Obser- 

 vations" on the subject ; for, although the plan seems admirable, none of my 

 connexions have seen it in actual use, notwithstanding I called at his forge for 

 that purpose. This was in 1821, soon after the promulgation of Mr. Teast's 

 plan. 



By the means proposed, the hoof is spread outwards at every step, so as to 

 afford expansion to the heels, and avoid pressure upon the sole; an advantage 

 for such horses as are weak or thin-soled that is at once obvious and gratify- 

 ing. His idea of giving pressure to the convex sole, by making his shoe with 

 the whole foot surface inclining outwards, is more vague, since all that is re- 

 quisite is attained by the first method. 



Notwithstanding the French method of punching has been spoken of in 

 terms of approbation, and their mode of driving and clenching low is recom- 

 mended to imitation, let it not be supposed that in other respects they make 

 the best shoeing-smiths in the world, but the contrary. Their finest shoeing 

 is sad, slovenly work to look at ; and this very excellence of theirs is more at- 

 tributable to laziness than to design or plan. As one instance of this undesir- 

 able quality, they assign two men to placing the shoe, a lacquey holding the 

 foot and bringing the tools, whilst le marechal himself hammers it on with 

 much pomp. In Portugal they employ three, which includes the gallegot^ 

 or porter. 



CHAPTER IV. 



DISEASES OF THE FOOT. 



When these can not be traced distinctly to any specific cause, they are 

 fairly attributable to ailment of the whole system dropping into the legs, and 

 "fever in the feet" decidedly so, in my opinion, when both are so afflicted. 

 Therefore it was that I noticed this disease along with "strain of the tendons,'' 

 to which 1 attribute its origin, as much as to other causes of general heat of 

 the foot. Indeed the whole structure of the foot of the horse is so peculiarly 

 curious that it almost deserves a separate study, but we must always keep in 

 mind, whilst considering its ailments, that the great irritation kept up by its 

 extreme action is readily communicable from the one to the other, so that vye 

 can not intelligib\y separate the leg from the foot, when speaking of the ail- 

 ments of either, notwithstanding 1 have thought proper to begin this chapter 

 with the disorders that are situated higher up, and mean to close it with such 

 AS on'y make their appearance below. 



But there remains still another distinction that may as well be drawn here, 



