676 



SHOEl^^a. 



the frog and solo so as to cause them to lose their moisture. 2. 



The thickness of the shoe, greatly increased by high calks, Avhich 



removes the frog and sole from 

 all contact with the sfround, 

 and prevents them from ob- 

 taining moisture from it.* 

 3. Bad fitting of the shoes, by 

 which means the bearinof sur- 

 face of the heels is made to 

 a greater or less degree con- 

 cave, so that when weight is 

 thrown upon the limb, the 

 heels slide inward. 4. Nail- 

 ing back in the quarters so 

 that as the feet grow, instead 

 of becoming wider as they 

 would if free, they are to that 

 degree crowded together. 5. 

 Allowing the feet to become 

 too dry ; because the drier 

 and harder they become, the 

 more direct is the tendency 

 to become small. 6. If from 

 any cause inflammation is 



Fig. 504. — Pony that cut his foot seriously 

 by calking, causing so much inflamma- 

 tion and pain that the foot was 

 held up, as represented, for 

 several days. 



produced in the foot, it will in a short time perceptibly diminish 

 in size. See Figs. 505, 506, showing the effect of acute or chronic 

 inflammation in causing severe and rapid contraction. 



The results of these causes, separately or combined, are sufii- 

 cient to ruin even the best of feet in a short time. But all the ef- 

 forts heretofore made for the cure of contraction seem to have been 

 simply to spread the heels open, which failed of making a cure on 

 account of the crude way in which it was done, regardless of 

 bringing about a natural condition of circulation, whereby healthy 

 tissue could be grown. 



* I Mould remark here that Iceeping horses in stalls so narrow that they are 

 greatly restricted from moving more than a few feet, and with floor largely inclined 

 backward, is not ouly so exceedingly hard on the feet as to be a cause of fever and 

 contraction, but so uncomfortable for the horse, that every humane owner should 

 do what ho can to remedy the difficulty. Particular reference to this will be found 

 under the head of " Stabling." 



