304 



THE FORE EI MB. 



cause an undue amount of strain to be thrown on the 

 back-tendons (p. j^). If the bars be weak in com- 

 parison to the waU, or if they be cut away, the heels 

 of the shod foot will have a tendency to contract. 

 Unusual width between the heels is generally associated 



Fig. 382. — Off fore foot of unshod horse (|rds nat. size). 



with weakness of those parts. At the same time, they 

 should have no tendency to contraction, which will not 

 be present if the frog, as it ought to be, is well developed. 

 An unusually large size of frog points to the effects of 

 laminitis (fever of the feet), provided that the sole is 

 convex, or even flat ; but if the sole is concave, there 



