160 HORSE-SHOEING. 



influences ; it loses its moisture, drys, hardens, and shrivels up j 

 it also occupies a smaller space, and in doing so, the sole becomes 

 more concave, drawing after it the wall — for it must be remem- 

 bered that the sole is a strong stay against contraction of the 

 lower margin of the hoof — and the consequence is that the foot 

 gradually decreases in size, and the quarters and heels narrow. 

 The animal goes " tender," even on smooth ground ; but if he 

 chance to put his mutilated sole on a stone, what pain must he 

 experience ! This tenderness on even ground or smoothly paved 

 roads arises from the fact, that not only is the entire sensitive 

 surface compressed, irritated, or inflamed by the hard, contract- 

 ing envelope, and the unnatural exposure to sudden changes of 

 heat and cold, but the little sensitive processes contained at the 

 upper end of each of the horn-fibres are painfully crushed in 

 their greatly diminished tubes, and instead of being organs of 

 secretion and the most delicate touch, they are now scarcely more 

 than instruments of torture to the unfortunate animal. Not 

 only is pain or uneasiness experienced during progression, but 

 even in the stable the horse whose soles have been so barbarously 

 treated, exhibits tenderness in his feet by resting them, and if 

 felt, a great increase of temperature will be perceived. 



Owing to the secreting apparatus of the sole being deranged 

 through this senseless paring, the formation of new horn takes 

 place slowly, and it is not until a certain quantity has been 

 provided to compensate in some degree for that removed, that 

 the horse begins to stand easier, and travel better. Scarcely, 

 however, has the restorative process advanced to this stage, than 

 it is time for him to be reshod, when this part must again 

 submit to be robbed of its horn. 



The sole having been pared too thin and concave leaves the cir- 

 cumference of the hoof standing much higher than if it had been 



