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a superficial observer, unless it happens that the 

 part affected has been recently cut away to relieve 

 the pain. This part is usually at the corner of the 

 heel, on the inside, just at the point where the shoe 

 terminates. It is, in fact, a bruise of the sole of 

 the foot, occasioned by undue pressure of the 

 shoe; and though it admits of partial relief by 

 cutting away the affected part, that relief is rarely 

 permanent. If the foot appears to have been cut 

 unusually deep at the angle, where the shoe meets 

 the inside heel, or if there is any peculiarity in 

 the shoeing at that part, the purchaser may infer 

 that " it is not all right." 



These are the ordinary diseases of the foot, per- 

 ceptible more or less to every eye ; but 1 am far 

 from supposing that I have described all to which 

 that important organ is subject. Tenderness, and 

 even lameness, are constantly to be found where 

 not one of these diagnostics is perceptible. Some- 

 times the sole is extremely thin, and the foot is 

 bruised, where no symptom can be discovered 

 without gradually paring away the horny sub- 

 i stance. If, however, none of the indications which 

 I have here mentioned are visible, nor any marks 

 of bruise about the coronet, and if the horse's 

 action is firm and bold, it may be fairly assumed 

 that the foot is in a sound state. 



