128 Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



until the acid has ceased to hiss, then have the 

 shoe put on, but mind it has a fair and level bear- 

 ing and broad enough at the heel to cover ^Oi 

 point of the bar at its juncture with the heel. 

 IS'ever allow the smith to spring the heel, as they 

 say "to take the pressure off the heel," for by so 

 doing they avoid one trouble and cause two. If 

 the shoe is sprung at the heel there is no level 

 bearing, and great leverage is given to the shoe, 

 which unduly bears upon the quarters of the foot^ 

 the quarters being the weakest part of the foot it 

 is easily injured, and thus to avoid a corn we do 

 our best to set up inflammation. Another evil is 

 that by an uneven bearing and great leverage we 

 put too much strain on the nails, causing them to 

 break and loosen the shoe. In cases of bad corns, 

 if you want the pressure taken off the heel, make 

 the smith thin out the heel of the shoe to one 

 half the substance of the shoe for about one inch 

 and a quarter from the point of the heel ; this 

 should be done on the wearing surface next the 

 ground, and upon no account on the side next the 

 foot. If these instructions are fully carried out, 

 the author is confident that the worst corns can 

 be cured in twice or three times shoeing, much 

 annoyance to master and man saved, and relief 

 given to the poor horse. This being a disease 

 brought on entirely by man's ignorance, stupidity, 

 and neglect, it is time we turned our attention to 

 the subject, and by careful shoeing and common 

 sense to atone for the suffering of the past, by 

 studying the comfort of the horse in the future. 



