EVILS OF PJRING THE HOOFS. 48.5 



friction it experiences on the earth and paved road, and 

 is pressed by the weight of the body into the little cavities 

 and interstices it meets. 



'2. By its flexibility, it takes the imprint and the 

 contour, so to speak, of the ground it comes into contact 

 with ; so that the foot rests on a greater number of parts, 

 which, mutually assisting each other, multiply the points 

 of support, and thereby give the animal more adherence 

 to the surface on which he moves. We may even say 

 that he acquires a kind of feeling in this part, through its 

 correspondence with the fleshy sole, and from this to the 

 tendon — a feeling that I will not compare with that we 

 experience when we walk with naked feet, but which is 

 yet suflicient to warn him of the counterpoise he ought to 

 give to his body to maintain its equilibrium, and so pre- 

 serve him from falling, twisting, or stumbling, 



' The object of shoeing, by him who first resorted to 

 it, would only be as a preservative and a defence, as much 

 for the wall as for the sole. But he would not add the 

 condition of paring either the one or the other, I do not 

 say to our excess, but in any way whatever, because this 

 would be contrary to his principle, and would destroy his 

 work. 



'This precaution (paring) can only be recommended 

 in cases where the horn is rugged, and the shoe does not 

 rest on it everywhere equally, thus opposing its solidity. In 

 such a case it is right, but otherwise it is a contradiction 

 and an absurdity. I have often questioned those amateur 

 horsemen who were particularly careful to have their horses' 

 feet pared, but none of them could demonstrate either its 

 necessity or propriety. . . . The horny sole receives its 



