INJURIES CONNECTED WITH SHOEING, ETC. 327 



in cutting is the inside of the fetlock joint, and the common 

 remedy is to make the inner branch of the shoe thicker than 

 the outer branch, gradually swelling it from the toe to the heel. 

 This is supposed to alter the position of the fetlock joint, and 

 place it at a greater distance from the striking foot. As cutting, 

 however, is often an effect of weakness or fatigue, and not un- 

 frequently of awkwardness in going, this remedy often fails. 

 Mr. Moorecroft, on this account, Avas induced to try another 

 method, quite the reverse of what I have just described, and in 

 a few instances I have found it successful. He advises the outer 

 branch of the shoe to be raised in the manner before described, 

 so that it may be higher than the inside. For he says, " When 

 a horse is at rest, he supports his weight equally on both feet ; 

 but having the inner heel and quarter raised when one foot is 

 elevated, he must be supported obliquely on the other, and 

 hence have a tendency to fall outwards ; to prevent which, he 

 brings the moving foot nearer to the supporting one, by which 

 he strikes it ; but by raising the outer instead of the inner 

 branch of the shoe, we necessarily give it a disposition to lean 

 inwards, which will induce the horse to throw or incline the 

 moving foot farther from the supporting foot."* 



Mr. Goodwin describes an improvement of the common boot, 

 as it is termed, for defending the fetlock joint, when cutting 

 cannot otherwise be prevented, which may be had at Mr. 

 Long's, veterinary instrument maker, 217. High Holborn, 

 London, t 



When cutting appears to depend upon weakness, or riding a 

 horse, though it happen to be a moderate journey, until he is 

 fatigued, the most effectual, as well as the cheapest remedy, is 

 to turn him to grass until he recovers his strength, 



OveV'TeacMng. 



These, in old books of farriery, were termed according to 

 their situation in the heel, or above the fetlock joint, the higher 

 and the nether attaint ; from the Fx-ench atteint. These acci- 

 dents sometimes happen from the toe of the hind foot being too 

 long and not squared off as I have advised, but more frequently 

 from the sharp edge afforded by the inner rim of the hind shoe 

 towards the toe. It may also occur from bad riding, in pulling 



* In the liind feet there is no shoe more likely to prevent cutting than a 

 three quarter shoe, the inside heel being left uncovered. — Ei>. 



t The best boot for cutting the leg is formed with leather iitted to the leg 

 and laced, the leather being double at the part struck by the other foot. 



In some instances it is found that a boot buckled round the hoof that cuts, 

 and softly stuffed, prevents injury from the blow when other methods fail. 



For cutting the fetlock, a piece of cloth tied round above the joint and 

 doubled down over it answers the purpose. — Ed. 



T 4 



