PREPARATION OP THE FOOT. 



41 



A Good Bearing Surface is the primary object 

 aimed at in preparing the foot for a shoe. The relative 

 position of the limb to the foot and the proper propor- 

 tions of every part of the foot are matters to be borne in 

 mind whilst the farrier is directly forming the bearing 

 surface for a shoe. A good bearing surface must be 

 even, level, on sound horn, and as wide as can be 

 obtained, to give stability to the shoe. It should not be 

 limited to the wall. If, without over-reduction, the uso 

 of the rasp leaves a firm portion of the sole as a level 

 surface continuous with the lower edge of the wall, the 

 best of bearing surfaces is obtained. (Fig. 27.) The 



Fig, 27.— a proportionate Foot witli a good bearing Surface. 



bearing surface should be level from heel to toe, and no 

 part of it can be singled out either as unfit to bear weight 

 or as specially capable of enduring undue pressure. No 

 broken or diseased horn should be nsed as bearing sur- 

 face for a shoe. The broken horn should be removed 

 and the diseased horn must, if not entirely removed, 

 have so much of its border cut or rasped off as will pre- 

 vent contact with a shoe. 



After forming a level bearing surface with the rasp, 

 the sharp outer border of the wall is lightly removed 

 with the file, so as to prevent splitting of the horn. Tha 



