THE FOEE-FEET. 73 



they hold the opinion that the heels, which are formed 

 by the union of the bars and crust, expand as soon as 

 the weight of the animal is thrown on the foot. 

 Surely, if there is any expansion here, the thinner 

 the bars are the better, as they could then expand the 

 more freely and readily. But the fact is, to those 

 who are not over-much given to theorising, it will at 

 once appear evident, after a careful inspection of the 

 prepared foot, that no such expansion takes place — 

 that the bars are purposely intended to prevent either 

 expansion or contraction ; and therefore the stronger 

 they are, the more effectually will they perform their 

 duty in keeping the walls of the foot perfectly im- 

 moveable. The wi'iters referred to are quite right in 

 insisting, at the hands of the blacksmith, upon the 

 preseiwation of the bars ; but their directions on this 

 head are inconsistent with then- own ideas about expan- 

 sion. The antiquated notions about expansion of the 

 heels and descent of the sole are almost completely ex- 

 ploded, as the Vetei-inarians of the present day are 

 making rapid strides towards the adoption of aU ra- 

 tional views on this as well as other subjects. 



The sole is that part which intervenes between the 

 crust, the bars, and the frog. In a weU-formed foot, 

 it is always a little concave. As I do not believe in 

 the cm-rent opinion about the descent of the sole under 

 the weight of the horse, any more than I do in the ex- 

 pansion of the heels, I woidd not, of course, be dis- 



