PREPARATION OF THE FOOT. " 47 



the side of tlie frog at the same time. The effect is ta 

 produce an appearance of width at the back of the foot — 

 to make what is called "a fine, open foot." Fig. 31 

 shows a foot which has been injured in this way. The 

 wedge shaped opening which results has many objec- 

 tions. It breaks the continuit}'- of structures at the heels, 

 it removes horn unnecessarily, it weakens the foot, and, 

 when the wall is interfered with, it shortens the bearing 

 surface for a shoe. The bearing surface at the back of 

 the foot is perha,ps the most important of any afforded 

 by the wall. The longer the bearing surface is at the 

 heels, the more the base for sustaining weight is brought 

 under tho leg, and the better the position for supporting 

 the body. All removal of horn that shortens this surface 

 is injurious. 



Oyer-Redijction OF Hoof is always a fault. It is 

 true, a carefully fitted shoe on a foot so treated may do no 

 harm for a time. Too much horn should be left rather 

 than too little. A strong covering of horn is a protection 

 against many mistakes in the fitting of form of a shoe 

 applied to a foot. So long as a hoof is everyv>rhere strong 

 enough to sustain pressure and afford bearing, weight is 

 •evenly distributed throughout the whole foot. When 

 the horn is thin, it yields to any uneven pressure, and 

 damage is done to the foot, even if immediate lameness 

 is not induced. 



