FELT OR LEATHER SOLES. 439 



tion or tenderness of tlie foot continues, but a very bad practice if constantly 

 adopted. The nails cannot be driven so surely or securely when this sub- 

 stance is interposed between the shoe and the foot. The contraction and 

 swelling of the felt or leather from the effect of moisture or dryness will 

 soon render the attachment of the shoe less firm — there will be too much 

 play upon the nails — the nail-holes will enlarge, and the crust be broken 

 away. 



After wounds or extensive bruises of the sole, or where the sole is thin 

 and flat and tender, it is sometimes covered with a piece of leather, fitted 

 to the sole, and nailed on with the shoe. This may be allowed as a tenL- 

 porary defence of the foot ; but there is the same objection to its permanent 

 use from the insecurity of fastening, and the strain on the crust, and the 

 frequent chipping of it. There are also these additional inconveniences, that 

 if the hollow between the sole and the leather is filled Avith stopping and 

 tow, it is exceedingly difficult to introduce them so evenly and accurately 

 as not to produce partial or injurious pressure. The long contact of the 

 sole with stopping of almost every kind will produce a healthy, elastic 

 horn, and if the hollow is not thus filled, gravel and dirt will insinuate 

 themselves, and injure the foot. Facts, however, are stubborn things, and 

 it is notorious that there are hundreds of horses doing their daily work 

 over the London stones, with comparative comfort, that otherwise would 

 be actual cri^jples working in pain and misery. Any alleviation to the 

 artificial and laborious life of the horse in London and other large cities, 

 must be hailed vnth satisfaction for its policy and humanity. 



The general habit of stopping the feet requires some consideration. It 

 is a very good or a very bad practice, according to circumstances. When 

 the sole is flat and thin it should be omitted, except on the evening before 

 shoeing, and then the application of a little moisture may render the paring 

 of the foot safer and more easy. If it were oftener used it would soften 

 the foot, and not only increase the tendency to descent, but the occasional 

 occurrence of laineness from pebbles or irregularities of the road. 



Professor Stewart gives a valuable account of the proper application of 

 stopping. ' Farm horses seldom require any stopping. Their feet receive 

 sufficient moisture in the fields, or, if they do not get much, they do not 

 need much. Cart-horses used in the town should be stopped every Satur- 

 day night, until Monday morning. Fast going horses should be stopped 

 once a week, or oftener during winter, and every second night in the hot 

 weeks of summer. Groggy horses, and all those with high heels, concave 

 shoes, or hot and tender feet, or an exuberance of horn, require stopping 

 almost every night. When neglected, especially in dry weather, the sole 

 becomes hard and rigid, and the horse goes lame, or becomes lame if he 

 were not so before.' 



One of two substances, or a mixture of both, is generally used for 

 stopping the feet — clay and cow-dung. The clay used alone is too hard, 

 and dries too rapidly. Many horses have been lamed by it. If it is used 

 in the stable, it should always be I'emoved before the horse goes to work. 

 It may, perhaps, be apphed to the feet of heavy draught horses, for it will 

 work out before much mischief is done. 



Cow-dung is softer than the clay, and it has this good property, that it 

 rarely or never becomes too hard or dry. For ordinary work, a mixture 

 of equal parts of clay and cow-dung will be the best application ; either of 

 them, however, must be applied with a great deal of caution, Avhere there 

 is any disposition to thrush. Tow used alone, or with a small quantity of 

 tai', will often be serviceable. 



In the better kind of stables a felt pad is frequently used. It was first 

 introduced by principal Veterinar}- Surgeon Cherry. It keeps the foot cool 



