DISEASES OF FOOT AND LIMB CONSEQUENT ON SHOEING. 281 



the ground not only causes anxiety, insecure gait, slipping, and 

 falling, but more or less marked compression, if not contusion, 

 of the articular surfaces of that side on which the hoof first 

 comes in contact with the ground ; whilst on the opposite side 

 strain of the articular ligaments occurs. When we think how 

 often horses suffer in their gait by faulty preparation of the 

 feet in shoeing when going on perfectly level ground, it will 

 be clear that on such curved surfaces or on rough hard streets 

 these strains in and about the joints must be very much 

 greater. 



On soft ground the unequal tread is of little or no import- 

 ance, because the part of the hoof which first touches the 

 earth buries itself to a corresponding extent. On hard streets, 

 however, the accommodation occurs at the expense of the joints. 

 Faults in shoeing have often been blamed for the excessive 

 wear of horses' legs, but the foregoing will show this view to 

 be in large measure unjust. 



