96 VETERINARY LECTURES 



and advance ' science with practice ' it is the art of ' horse-shoeing.' 

 For the shoer to have a knowledge of the different forms or kinds of 

 feet, to frame the various kinds of shoes and attach them properly, 

 and then to give a reason for his work, would be, I think, one of the 

 finest examples of ' science and practice.' 



175. The horse in its native wilds or at grass seldom has any 

 need of protection for the foot, but the condition of our roads and 

 streets is such that it is necessary to protect this beautiful structure 

 from injury ; therefore shoeing becomes a necessity, requiring science 

 and practice for its proper application ; and, owing to the great variety 

 of feet met with in the different breeds of horses, and the peculiar 

 formation of some of the hoofs, horse-shoeing (with brains as well as 

 with the hands) is actually of much more importance than it is usually 

 credited with. What is the use of a horse, however good or well- 

 fashioned, if it has not a sound foot to stand upon ? 



176. Varieties of Feet. — Among the different types of feet the 

 following are here noticed : 



(1) Sound Feet. — That which is called a good, strong, 



sound foot has its front wall inclined at an angle of 

 from 45 to 50 degrees, and has the outside wall more 

 rounded than the inner, which is nearly straight up 

 and down, and has a good concave sole. Although 

 the feet vary in colour, a bluish -grey has the preference 

 {Plate XI.,No.1). 



(2) Narrow Feet. — The next type is similar to the first, only 



the heels are much higher, and the quarters and toe 

 more upright. Feet of this kind, although serviceable, 

 are, in light-legged horses, liable to contraction and 

 navicular disease, while in cart-horses they are most 

 subject to side-bones. The walls and soles are 

 generally strong and hard, but this type requires a 

 great amount of care in shoeing (Plate XL, No. 2). 



(3) Flat Feet. — Some classes of cart and harness horses have 



great flat feet, with very large frogs, and open, low, 



