254 NARKOW-TIEELS. 



Methods of preserving the Hoof. 



First dip a few pledgets of hurds into this mix- 

 ture, while warm, and stop up the horse's feet; 

 then take two bits of sticks (commonly called 

 splints), and put each end crossways under the 

 shoe. Where horses' hoofs are dry and brittle, 

 it is a common, but injudicious, practice among 

 grooms to oil, or grease them, by which means 

 many a good foot has been spoiled. The best 

 method of preserving the hoofs is, to wash them in 

 old urine once or twice a day, w^hich will strengthen 

 and cause the hoof to grow: this treatment will 

 also prevent it from cracking, or breaking, after 

 the shells are first rasped off, and will so rust the 

 nails, that a clinch will seldom start from the 

 time of shoeing, till the animal requires again to 

 be shod. Where, however, the hoofs are con- 

 stantly greased, or oiled, every day, the clinches 

 will sometimes rise a quarter of an inch in a 

 week^s time, which loosens the shoe, and causes 

 the hoof to crack as far as the nails extend. 



Narrow-heeled horses may be treated in the 



