106 



AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



foot, burn the hoof with a hot iron, from its top to the top 

 of the crack, and on each side of the latter for the space of 

 one-fourth of an. inch. Burn the hoof to a crisp down to 

 the live flesh; and should the crack seem inclined to split 

 open when the horse steps, let the smith drive a nail through 

 the bottom of the hoof, so as to rivet the divided parts to- 

 gether. The nail should be clinched in the same manner as 

 when driven through the shoe, and its head and point filed 

 off smooth. Sometimes it will be found best to use two nails — 

 one at the bottom, and the other part way up the hoof. A 

 small seam may be cut on each side of the crack to receive 

 the upper one, and the nail driven through and clinched. 

 Care should be taken that no dirt or sand be left in the crack, 

 and then a coat of pitch spread over the entire opening. 



THE FOOT. 



a The external crust seen at 

 the quarter. 



b The coronary ring. 



c The little horny plates 

 lining the crust. 



d The same continued over 

 the bars. ^ 



e e The two concave sur- 

 faces of the inside of the 

 horny frog. 



/ That which externally is 

 g the cleft of the frog. 



ff The bars. 



h The rounded part of the 

 heels, belonging to the frog. 



/ i 



This smaller cut exhibits, in as satisfactory a manner, the mechanism and 

 structure of the base of the foot. 



a a The frog. 



b The sole. 

 c c The bars. 

 d d The crust. 



