HORSESHOEING. 167 



rule, the consequences of indirect nailing are first manifested 

 after two or three days, infrequently from the eighth to the 

 fourteenth day, as inflammation within the hoof and lameness, 

 at which time a careful examination will usually reveal in- 

 creased warmth of the hoof, pain upon pressure with the hoofr 

 testers and on tapping tlie hoof lightly, some swelling of the 

 entire foot, increased pulsation of the digital arteries, and un- 

 willing-ness of the animal to place all or perhaps any of its 

 M'eight upon the foot. 



Suspicion of nailing should be entertained if the shoeing 

 be recent, the hoof appear too small in relation to the body- 

 weight, the walls have been thinned by rasping or have been 

 broken away, or if the nails have been driven too high or very 

 irregularly. 



Causes. — The most common causes are mistakes in shoeing. 

 In the majority of cases the cause is a disregard of the rule that 

 the nails should penetrate the white line (see pages 118, 119 

 and 130, heavy type). 1, Using badly-punched shoes; 2, excessive 

 paring and shortening of the hoof; 3, weakening of the lower 

 border of the wall by excessive rasping away of the outside 

 (Fig. 187, c) ; 4, mistakes in fitting the shoe, especially apply- 

 ing shoes that are too narrow, letting the toe-clips too deep 

 into the horn, by which the nail-holes near the toe, instead of 

 falling upon the white line, are carried back upon the edge of 

 the sole, or using shoes in which the nail-holes are too wide 

 or improperly directed ; 5, using nails that are split, incom- 

 plete, badly formed and bevelled, and too large; 6, starting 

 nails too deep or with the bevel on the outside, or drawing them 

 too tight. As occasional causes may be mentioned : 7, old nail- 

 stubs in the horn ; 8, walls that are very thin or broken away ; 

 9, a soft, crumbling wall, which alters the sound and feeling 

 of the nail as it is driven, and makes it difficult to judge of its 

 course ; 10, restlessness of the animal while being shod. 



Examination. — Press with the hoof-testers upon the sole 

 and clinches ; tap lightly upon the clinches. If these acts cause 



