DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 239 



ject, and a great deal of it has been based on false 

 ideas; such as considering the hoof to be an elas- 

 tic box, and that paring and thinning down the 

 sole, cutting down the frog, and cutting the bars, 

 etc., would allow it to expand. This method the 

 majority of blacksmiths follow, resulting sooner 

 or later in the destruction of the foot. Some main- 



PLATE 8. BEST FORM OF SHOE FOR A DRIV- 

 ING HORSE. 



tain that high calkins at the heels are useful to 

 relieve the back tendon, others that the feet 

 should be kept soft by stuffing with clay, linseed 

 meal and other stuffs, all of which are unnecessary, 

 if not hurtful to the healthy foot. Without com- 

 menting on what others have done, I will give you 

 my experience founded on facts and practiced to 

 the advantage of the horse and to the satisfaction 

 and profit of the owner. As we have already seen 



