458 



Contraction. 



Contraction or Aoq/'-6o?/7if/ denotes an anormal approxima- 

 tion of the heels of the hoof, and mostly of the quarters as well. 



A NARROW Foot is not necessarily a contracted foot. Of 

 hoofs in general the outline approaches nearer to the circular 

 than to any other figure. Some horses, however, possess by 

 nature oblong or ovoid feet, such as Arabs and Barbs, and 

 Sicilian horses, and many of our thorough-breds. Mules and asses 

 are never seen with any other description of feet. With this 

 narrow form is frequently combined a white hoof, uniformly one 

 of luxuriant, strong, and tough fibre, high heels, and concave sole. 



Contraction may be general or partial. It is said 

 to be general, when the quarters as well as heels of the hoof 

 are involved : and in this case it very commonly happens that 

 the wall \^ straight 01 anormally upright. Contraction is par/iaZ 

 when confined to one or both heels. On rare occasions it is ob- 

 servable in one heel only ; though commonly both are affected, 

 and often the inner more than the outer heel. Sometimes one 

 foot is contracted; sometimes both feet. The hind feet are 

 not subject to contraction ; the reason for which will be 

 pointed out by-and-by*. 



Contraction is pure or mixed. Pure contraction exists 

 without any collateral disease of foot; or, at least, without any in 

 connexion with it. Mixed contraction is contraction accompanied 

 by inflammation, or by one or other of its consequences. 



The Symptoms of Contraction may appear too obvious 

 to need description. In some instances it certainly is manifest 

 enough; but not in all. When one foot is contracted while its 

 fellow retains its normal character, a comparison with the eye 

 between them, as the horse stands confronting us, will readily 

 detect the anormality : the discovery being, as is very likely, 

 aided by the circumstance of the horse going lame in the con- 



* There is a kind of contraction, called vertical contraction, which consists in 

 diminution of the diameter across the interior of the hoof, between the sole (which 

 is become anormally concave) and the wall. It is denominated vertical, to distin- 

 guish it from that now \nider our consideration, which has had the name oilateral 

 given to it. 



