PRESERVATION OF THE HORN. 6ji 



crust, gradually removing a larger amount as the toe is 

 reached, and inclining the instrument in a sloping manner 

 on the outer edge, so as to cut off the external fibres 

 shorter than the internal ones. At the toe, the crust should 

 be cut down to the level of the sole. Here the knife 

 may be used, and the remainder of this part removed 

 until the white or yellow line marking the junction of sole 

 and wall is reached. This is only to take place around 

 the toe, and no more of the sole must be taken away than 

 is absolutely necessary to give a level bed to the shoe ; 

 or, as Osmer says, ' in order to obtain a smooth and even 

 surface, so far as the breadth of the shoe reaches, and no 

 farther.' In the majority of cases I never allow the knife 

 to be used for this purpose; causing all the work to be 

 done by the rasp. The object in cutting oif the external 

 fibres at an angle from the quarters to the toe, is to give the 

 edge of the hoof a rounded appearance, while it equalizes its 

 thickness, and prevents it from splitting and breaking. 

 The sole, frog, and bars must on no account, or under any 

 conditions — unless those of a pathological nature — be 

 interfered ivith in any way by knife or rasp. I have 

 already shown the urgent necessity there exists for pre- 

 serving these important parts of the plantar surface in 

 their full natural strength. As certainly as they are inter- 

 fered with, and their substance reduced, so surely will the 

 hoof be injured. Nature has made every provision for 

 their defence. They will support the contact of hard, 

 soft, rugged, or even sharp bodies, if allowed to escape 

 the terrible drawing-knife ; while hot, cold, wet, or dry 

 weather has little or no influence on the interior of the 

 foot, or on the tender horn, if man does not step in to 



