464 CONTRACTION. 



tendency ; and so has long-continued drought, or any thing that 

 robs the hoof of its moisture. The heat of the stable, standing 

 upon fermenting litter, or the absence of moisture to the hoof in a 

 situation and at a time when its own natural juiciness and hu- 

 midity is departing from it, may, any one or all of such like in- 

 fluences, dispose a hoof of a certain character to contraction. 

 But such agents will be greatly more effectual on shod than on 

 unshod hoofs. 



The various and apparently opposite Causes set down 

 to the account of contraction by writers on the subject, for the 

 most part will, if what I have advanced be based upon the results 

 of experience, admit at once of explanation and even of reconci- 

 liation. The list of causes as given by Blaine is — " neglect of 

 paring away the adventitious growth of horn ; the application 

 of artificial heat ; the deprivation of natural moisture ; constitu- 

 tional liability ; the existence of frushes ; the removal of the 

 bars, and too great lessening of the frog , the effects of pressure 

 occasioned by long confinement in a state of inactivity, and in 

 an erect position ; and, lastly, the contracting effects of shoeing*." 

 Of which "list" Youatt approves in the following terras: — "A 

 very excellent writer, particularly when treating of the foot of 

 the horse, Mr. Blaine, has given us a long and correct list of the 

 causes of injurious contraction, and most of them are, fortunately, 

 under the control of the owner of the horset." 



Now, much as I respect the opinions of these two defunct 

 eminent writers, I cannot help thinking that both of them have 

 evinced deficiency of observation, let their experience have 

 amounted to much or little, on the subject before us. I repeat 

 it again and again, that, were it not for the (indirect it is true, 

 but still) potential influence of the horseshoe, we should have 

 to complain but very little of the production of contraction, since 

 only under particular circumstances, and rarely even then, are 

 any of the causes mentioned, of effect, in giving rise to it. Con- 

 traction is the last thing w^e apprehend in unshod horses. Nor 

 even when horses are kept constantly shod with tips, ah initio, 



* Blaine's " Outlines of the Veterinary Art." 5th and last Edit. 1841. 

 f "The Horse." By W. Youatt. The new (or last) Edition. 



