STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE FOOT. 301 



CHAP. LIII. 



ON THE STRUCTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE FOOT. 



It has been justly observed that without a sound foot a horse 

 is but of Httle value, however perfect he may be in all other 

 respects. It is the basis of the Avhole superstructure ; and when 

 we consider what immense weight is sometimes thrown upon 

 this part in the violent exertions to which the animal is exposed, 

 it will not appear strange that it should be so frequently (as, 

 indeed, we find it) affected with lameness. It has been the 

 fashion for some years to attribute the frequency of the horse's 

 lameness to bad shoeing; but it is time, as Mr. Bracy Clark has 

 observed, for all this idle declamation to cease. It is not shoeing 

 that causes the peculiar frequency of lameness, and incurable 

 lameness, in this country ; but the fast and immoderate work 

 the horse is made to do. J\luch has been said of the superiority 

 of the French mode of shoeing, and attempts have been made 

 to introduce an improvement on the French method into this 

 country, and a very important improvement it certainly is ; but 

 as to the French shoe, considered without the method of nailing, 

 in which they certainly excel, I think it the very worst form 

 I ever saw in tliis country. As tlie diseases of the horse's foot 

 form an essential branch of the subject upon which I am now 

 writing, it is presumed that a brief description of its structure 

 and economy will not be unacceptable to the readers of this 

 volume. 



There is scarcely, in the whole structure of the animal, any 

 jjart so richly organised as the foot, although the eye perhaps 

 may be offered as an exception ; for it exceeds in the extreme 

 delicacy of its structtn-e any thing that can possibly be imagined. 



To a common observer the foot may appear a mass of in- 

 sensible horn ; but it is composed of an assemblage of springs, 

 especially when considered in relation to the fore leg, which 

 admirably adapt it, not only to the uses of the animal considered 

 individually, but to the uses of man also ; and so carefully has 

 it been guarded, that were the animal employed only to supply 

 the necessities of man, his feet would last as long, even if not 

 shoed, 'IS any other part of his body. He has been made, how- 

 ever, subservient to his luxuries, and that too in so hi<2;h a decree 

 that he has materially degenerated from his original strength 

 and hardihood of constitution. The immoderate exertions in 

 Avhich he is now generally employed are such as sufficiently 

 account for the great number of crip{)led horses that are con- 

 stantly offering themselves to our notice, especially in stage 

 coaches and post-chaises. 



