26 THE HORSE. 



from artificial contraction, which can be cured only at 

 the earliest stage of the disease. It may subsequently be 

 sometimes relieved; but rarely, after an inflammation of 

 a few weeks' standing, without a powerful remedy being 

 applied, will there be so decided a cure effected as that 

 the horse may be pronounced sound. If the contraction 

 arose from a disease that had been cured, and the horse 

 had been doing the work of horses of his class for six 

 weeks without inconvenience or extraordinary care, then 

 he is SOUND. 



Lameness from contraction is preferable to the lame- 

 ness consequent upon convex or pumice sole; the latter 

 unfitting the horse for any but slow or moderate work. 



In order that I may not be misunderstood in treating 

 of artificial contraction, I should mention the exception 

 to the rule, though I do not think that contraction which 

 conies on gradually, and without an injury from a second- 

 ary natural cause, should be considered artificial. For 

 instance, if from want of exercise the frog receives no 

 pressure, the inside of the foot has less work to perform, 

 and gradually shrinks or wastes, and the horn contracts. 

 When this takes place gradually, without inflammation, 

 and without causing lameness or inconvenience, the horse 

 is SOUND. 



COKNS. 



Corns are an unsoundness. They are mostly on the 

 inside heel, looking like a bruise or extravasated blood. 

 They are more or less troublesome, according to the na- 

 ture of the foot. In the low-heeled, thin, and brittle 

 hoof, they are the worst and most troublesome; in the 

 stronger hoof they are of less consequence; provided they 

 are not soft corns or others of a serious character, and 

 if the horse is a very superior animal, with good hoofs, 



