108 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



This shoe is generally understood by the skilled blacksmith, and 

 requires great care in the fitting to make it perform its desired work, 

 which is to spread the heel slowly. 



It will be seen by the cut that the portion of the shoe resting on 

 the heel is about one-eighth of an inch higher on the inside than 

 on the outside at the heel. In fact, the shoe is convexed from the 

 last nail to the heel. The cut represents the surface of the shoe next 

 to the hoof. The shoe should be a trifle wider at the heel than 

 the hoof. Care must be taken that the shoe does not rest on the sole 

 of the foot, but bear on the wall. 



The best way to fit this shoe is to fit it cold as well as you can. 



Then heat it and apply it to the hoof, and make an impression on the 



foot with the hot shoe. This will enable the smith to get a better fit 



than he could by fitting it cold. Aitec these grooves are made in 



the hoof, and the above shoe properly fitted, it will at once double 



the value of the horse. 



Founder. 



Founder is produced by the sudden transition from heat to cold* 

 For instance, by driving a horse until he is hot, then allowing him 

 to stand in a cold current of air, or giving him a heavy draught of 

 cold water while warm, thereby checking the circulation of the blood 

 to the extremities. It is frequently produced by driving fast on hard 

 roads, which produce inflammation of the delicate plates called la- 

 minae, by which the hoof is attached to the sensitive foot. It also 

 occurs from overloading the stomach by too much wheat, oats, barley 

 or peas, as h often seen when a horse gets loose during the night, 

 getting to the grain-bin ; the food, taken into the stomach in such 

 large quantities, and a portion of it dry, when wet by the stomach, 

 swells to such an extent that it prevents the blood from circulating, 

 and produces founder. 



No horse will be foundered from giving him his ordinary amount 



