Management of the Feet of Horses. 211 



away from the sensitive structures, but the lat- 

 ter has to be driven inwards, by which it is al- 

 most certain to lame by a " prick" or " bind" as 

 it approaches too near. 



Shoes should always be made to possess a per- 

 fectly level surface for the foot to rest upon. 

 That part of the foot which comes upon the shoe 

 is to be the ground surface of the wall. No part 

 of the frog or sole need touch the shoe. 



The shape of shoes is an affair of little moment. 

 There is no call for beauty or grand work. The 

 secret of shoeing is to afford a protection which 

 the hoof alone cannot give, and that is the point 

 to study. 



Bar shoes consist of the ordinary shoe, the 

 heels being turned round to meet, and afterwards 

 welded ; or a bar is placed across in front of the 

 heels. Their use is adopted in order to throw a 

 portion of the bearing upon the frog, to relieve 

 other parts which may be injured or diseased. 

 If the frog is too small to reach the bar, punch a 

 hole in it, and rivet a piece of leather on, to 

 press upon the frog, and thus gain the desired 

 bearing. Bar shoes are very useful for curing 

 running thrushes, if the weight can be borne. 



Leather soles are useful agents to protect feet 

 which have been cut away in operations, and 

 prevent the access of dirt. As a means of pre- 

 venting concussion the writer has reason to 

 doubt their efficacy. Shoeing as at present 

 carried on is to be likened to breaking a man's 



