214 Simple Rules for Shoeing, and 



for some time, and suddenly become desperate 

 cutters in consequence of repeated injury being 

 done to the parts. 



Cutting sometimes takes place in animals 

 with high action, when the toes are naturally 

 turned inwards, and the foot is carried towards the 

 opposite leg. In this case the seat of injury is 

 below the knee, and great lameness occurs, some- 

 times attended with permanent swelling of the 

 bone, called a " splint." 



The causes are generally traceable to pre- 

 ventible circumstances. Animals are either out 

 of condition weak or they are driven too fast 

 and worked too hard in a variety of ways. The 

 victims are usually the horses of butchers, 

 bakers, and other fast drivers, omnibus and cab 

 horses especially- in fact, cart and other horses 

 will be guilty of the practice if badly kept and 

 harassed about. When work is prolonged too 

 much and animals are heavily shod, they become 

 " leg tired" in stable phraseology, and the action 

 becomes slovenly and false. 



The remedies are careful feeding and work 

 at all times, but especially when the latter is 

 unavoidably prolonged. In the matter of shoe- 

 ing much may be done. It is the fancy to 

 place upon the feet the most fantastic, and 

 even the most clumsy shoes, and there are scores 

 of smiths who may be found ready to accept a 

 wager " to take any horse off the cut." There 

 is no need for these, or even to mutilate the hoof, 



