216 Simple Rules for Shoeing, and 



act of progression. In the variety of horse 

 most subject to this disease, five nails, or even 

 fewer, may be sufficient to hold on the shoe, as 

 the foot is always very firm, and the animal cannot 

 endure severe exertion. A light hammer should 

 be used, and the blows sharp and in rapid succes- 

 sion, to avoid shaking, which always occurs with 

 heavy tools used without caution. 



The feet are to be prepared according to rules 

 already given at p ige 210. 



Sidebones among cart-horses are very com- 

 mon. When the natural elasticity of the cartilages 

 which surmount the wings of the coffin bone is 

 lost, the parts are found to have been involved 

 in the process of inflammation and subsequent 

 conversion Into bone (ossification.) The motion 

 of the joint is more or less interfered with, con- 

 cussion causes pain, and the tendency is towards 

 an increase of size, 



If the feet are properly preserved and pre- 

 pared for the shoe, all that is required is to 

 keep the heels and toes low and stiff, and be- 

 neath the sidebone ; the heel of the shoj is best 

 made to pass straight backwards from ike quarter, 

 in order to extend the surface of bearing. The 

 foot should be hammered as lightly as possible. 



For ring bones the toes and heels of shoes 

 should also be kept low, in order to avoid con- 

 cussion 



In all cases, however, where these affections 

 are of long standing, and medical treatment pro- 



