THE HORSE S FOOT, AND HOW TO SHOE IT. 237 



horn is soft and spongy, and incapable of resisting ex- 

 posure to the air ; but, as it is pushed farther away from 

 this surface by successive deposits of fresh material, it 

 becomes old horn, loses its moisture, and, in doing so, 

 acquires hardness and rigidity sufficient to withstand 

 external influences: then it is subjected to wear; and, if 

 this be insufficient to reduce it sufficiently, it falls off in 

 scales. But the process of exfoHation is not a rapid 

 one : the flakes remain attached to the solid horn be- 

 neath, more or less firmly, until it, in turn, commences to 

 loosen on the surface, and yield new flakes ; when the 

 old ones separate. This natural diminution in the ex- 

 cess of horn of the sole is a most beneficial process for 

 the hoof Horn is a slow conductor of heat and cold, 

 and, when thick, retains moisture for a long period. 

 These flakes, then, act as a natural 'stopping' to the 

 hoof by accumulating and retaining moisture beneath ; 

 and this not only keeps the foot cool as it slowly evapo- 

 rates, but insures for the solid and growing horn its 

 toughness, elasticity, and proper development. In ad- 

 dition to this, every flake acts more or less as a spring 

 in warding off" bruises or other injuries to the sole ; and 

 thus the floor of the horny box is protected from in- 

 jury externally and internally. 



"What occurs when the farrier — following out the 

 routine of his craft, or obeying the injunctions of those 

 as ignorant as himself, or so prejudiced as not to be able 

 to reason — pares the sole until it springs to the press- 

 ure of his thumb ? Why, the lower surface of the foot 



