366 



DEFORMITIES AND DISEASES OF THE HOOF. 



to an extent corresponding to the contracted wall, an incision 

 is made with a searcher, saw, or an instrument resembling a 

 drawing chisel, the horn being removed as deep as the laminal 

 sheath. The groove is filled with wax. The further treat- 

 ment may comprise any of the methods given under A. A 

 bar shoe taking a good bearing on the frog succeeds best if 

 the horse cannot be completely rested. 



The effect is shown by the upper margin of the incision 

 overlapping the lower in consequence of expansion at the 

 coronet. Cure results from the portion of the wall above the 

 incision growing down in the normal direction. 



Many other methods have been suggested, such as those of 

 Bracy Clark, Coleman, Fulch, Barbier, Beaufils, etc., but cannot 

 be recommended. 



{B) Weak heels (figs. 340 and 341) are sometimes developed 

 to an extraordinary degree. Being too weak to carry the body- 



FlG. 340.— Contracted hoof from unshod horse. This growth resulted from want of move- 

 ment and neglect of the feet, a, excessively long heels ; b, clefts in the region of the 

 white line. 



weight when the horse is shod, they grow inward over the 

 posterior parts of the horny sole and bars ; indeed in some 

 cases over the limbs of the frog, and cause bruising, which we 

 recognise as corns. The hoof becomes narrower, and falls 

 within the definition of ' contracted hoof.' 

 : Weak heels are only too common in thin, shelly feet, and 



