FINISHING OFF THE HOOF AFTER AFFIXING SHOE. 277 



clips (giving a hold on the bar as opposed to the quarter or 

 toe) have even been successfully employed. 



Occasionally a nail when driven may splinter or break, and 

 portions of it remain in the hoof, defying all efforts at extraction 

 with ordinary pincers. To meet such special cases forceps have 

 been invented (fig. 273) but have never come into general use. 

 The forceps enable the portions to be more easily grasped and 

 removed, the adjustable screw serving as a pivot. Similar 

 forceps might be of value to veterinary surgeons in certain 

 operations. 



12. Examination of the Horse affer Shoeing. 



The animal is first walked to see how he treads, and trotted 

 to see whether he goes lame. Next the farrier should glance 

 at the limbs from in front to see that the foot axis neither 

 inclines inw^ardly nor outwardly, and from the side to see 

 whether the horn of the wall is in the same line as the axis of 

 the bones. A slight uprightness of the wall, however, is not 

 always a disadvantage. The heels will be of a height corre- 

 sponding to the formation of the hoof. Next he notes whether 

 the horn of the wall runs in a straight line from the coronet 

 to the bearing surface. The straighter all portions of the wall 

 appear the better. 



At the same time, any defect in form and position of the 

 shoe is seen. Above each nail should be a small opening, for 

 this shows that the nail has been turned over of full strength 

 in clenching. The clenches should be situated in sound horn, 

 approximately at the same height, equally spaced, and sunk 

 level with the w^all. The clips and the length and breadth 

 of the shoe are next noted. The toe of the hind shoe is 

 broader and thicker than the quarters. The clips should be 

 of equal form and size, and their length and width proportioned 

 to the form of the hoof and to the weight upon it, as well as 

 to the work required of the horse. The clip of the front shoe 

 should be in the centre of the toe ; that of the hind a trifle 

 towards the inside. When (in hind shoes) there are two 

 quarter-clips, each should be at the same distance from centre 

 of toe. Finally, each foot is lifted and the position of the 



