666 



SHOEING. 



The specimen from which it i;s drawn, was obtained from Dr. 



Hamill. The small sketch is full size, and shows the exact appear- 

 ance of its surface, and 

 small points of horn which 

 are over a ({uarter of an 

 inch long, extending out 

 like pegs. 



It is needless to add that 

 this is the result of the most 

 inexcusable ignorance, and 

 the cause of much harm. 

 If there is much wall ex- 

 tending out over the shoe, 

 it should not be deformed 

 by cutting down to it ; the 

 edge should simply be 

 rounded off and let alone. 



Fig. 486. — Showing effects of excessive rasping. 



Shoeing the Hind Feet. 



There is usually so little trouble with the hind feet, that it is 

 scarcely necessary to give any directions as to their management. 

 The horn is thickest at the quarters, and the principal nailing 

 shouki be done there. Sometimes there is a curling under or con- 

 tracting of the heels, which may be the cause of more or less 

 inflammation, extending to the sheaths of tendons and other parts 

 of the leg ; in such a case, if thought advisable, either or both 

 quarters can be treated as explained under that head. 



I think it advisable, in this connection, to say a few words 

 about pricking, which is more common than many suppose. It is 

 not unusual, indeed it is a very common occurrence, to drive the 

 nail too near the quick or into it, and thus by a little carelessness 

 cause great harm. First, if the nail be driven so as to go to the 

 quick, in which case the horse may show it by flinching, it should 

 in all cases be pulled out at once, and the hole bo left vacant. If 

 this is done, no harm will follow. Sometimes the smith, especially 

 if he expects to be scolded, will drive the nail down, which in a 

 few hours or next day will show itself by making the horse lame ; 

 or the nail may be driven so deeply as to go near the soft parts of 

 the inner edge, and when the point strikes the hard horn of the 



