192 THE FOOT IN ITS RELATION TO THE ENTIRE LIMB. 



direction of the horn tubes should everywhere be in contact. 

 It should neither show longitudinal nor transverse splits. 



The significance of rings depends on their position and course. 

 Eings running parallel to the coronet are, as a rule, of little 

 importance : they only indicate irregular nutrition, but those 

 which deviate from this course to any great extent, or which 

 are more prominent at one part of the wall than at another, 

 point to disease. Viewed from the ground surface and from 

 behind, the bulbs should appear rounded off, strongly developed, 

 and not displaced. The sole should be concave and show no 

 cracks in the white line. The frog should be large, its cleft 

 narrow, dry, and clean, and its forward prolongations equal in 

 size. The lateral furrows, although fairly fine, should not be 

 too narrow ; the bars should run in a straight line forwards 

 and inwards towards the point of the frog. Any deviation 

 towards the heels suggests commencing contraction. The sole 

 should show no red colouring in or about the corners of the 

 heels. The lateral cartilages should be elastic and equally 

 developed. 



Finally, in forming a judgment as to its shape and sound- 

 ness, the hoof should never be regarded alone, but in relation 

 to the limb. 



6. Wear of the Hoof and of the Shoe. 



In the first part of this work it was stated that the hoof 

 grows downwards and forwards at the average rate of ^ to 

 -j^ inch per month, 



Horn is lost either as a result of friction at the bearinof 

 surface or of shelling out of the sole. Two kinds of movement 

 combine to produce this friction ; one the forward movement, 

 at the moment when the hoof is brought to the earth, the other 

 the rotary movement, when it is everywhere in contact with 

 the ground. The rate of loss varies with the weight of the 

 animal, the quality of horn, and the roughness and hardness of 

 the ground. On modern hard roads wear exceeds growth, and 

 finally renders necessary some artificial protection. In fore- 

 feet, the foot is brought to the ground more obliquely, and the 

 toe usually wears more rapidly than in hind-feet. It is of 

 importance to remember that, although the point which first 



