CHARLIER TIP. 259 



'pitched in,' otherwise they are apt to split the wall. The 

 length varies somewhat, though perhaps the best results are 

 obtained when the ends of the shoe do not extend further than 

 the middle of the quarter ; sometimes one branch extends to the 

 heel, the other stopping short at the middle of the quarter 

 (three-quarter tip). The groove for the tip is made by first 

 rasping away the edge of the hoof and then using the special 

 Charlier knife (fig. 257). It is very important to obtain 

 accurate fitting. 



Should a Charlier shoe or tip be lost, lameness readily follows 

 from pressure on the sole, and unless the hoof be exceptionally 

 strong it becomes very difficult to affix an ordinary shoe. 



Fig. 260. — Stamped fore tip. Made from 5 x § inch iron. 



The Charlier tip is most useful for upright ' blocky ' feet 

 with wired-in heels and atrophied frogs, in which its use is often 

 followed by remarkable improvement in a comparatively short 

 time. As in the case of the Charlier shoe its use demands 

 much care, skill, and judgment. 



Tips are of much value for horses turned out at grass, or 

 doing light work. They permit the frog to come to the ground, 

 promote greater physiological activity of the horn-secretiug 

 structures, thus increasing the growth of horn, produce a large 

 h,ealthy frog, often cure thrush, and when contraction of the 

 foot is taking place are of great service. In the latter case, 

 the heels should be well lowered before applying the tip. Tips, 

 again, are useful for horses worked on asphalt and wood pave- 



