212 Simple Rules for Shoeing, and 



head, and the leather sole to the plaster. It is 

 a too common practice to pare the feet almost 

 like paper, and then put on leather soles. If 

 healthy feet are treated judiciously they possess 

 a natural protection, and need no leather soles. 



Stopping for feet is quite unnecessary. Grooms 

 and smiths call loudly for stopping in order to 

 pare the foot easily, and forget that as they 

 pare the horn dries more rapidly, and therefore 

 is the harder. Let them try the method al- 

 ready laid down, and they will find the foot is 

 soft beneath the scales which fall off as soon as 

 the shoe is removed, showing that nature uses 

 her own stopping, which is far better than clay 

 or cow dung. The same remarks apply to wet 

 swabs and other allied treatment. 



Horses' feet should always be kept as dry as 

 possible when healthy. Their natural con- 

 dition of usefulness as a protection consists in 

 being hard and bulky. If disease overtakes 

 them, poultices and fomentations are then needed, 

 as prescribed by the veterinarian. No greater 

 mischief occurs to horses' feet than that which 

 arises from the effects of wet straw yards and 

 pastures. The salts that are in the fluids found in 

 those places reduce and dissolve the hoof, and ren- 

 der it unfit as a protection. Such places are best 

 avoided unless well drained. 



Foot ointments when properly made are very 

 useful. Equal parts of Stockholm or Archangel 

 tar and mutton suet are to be melted together, 



