SHOES CONCAVE INJURIOUS. 133 



proportions with the shoe, which, in four or five weeks, 

 becomes at least a quarter of an inch wider and longer than 

 it was when dressed. Now there must be not only special 

 provision made in nailing for this increased enlargement, 

 but the greatest care should be used not to permit any 

 lateral, mechanical pressure upon the quarters that would 

 restrict their freedom. 



It must be observed that shoeing first raises the frog from 

 contact with the ground, which, of itself, removes an im- 

 portant auxiliary to health in the foot; second, that nailing 

 the shoe to the sides of the hoof brings direct restraint 

 upon the quarters with increased force, and to the degree 

 that this nailing is extended to the heels and the foot 

 increases in size by growth, is the foot contracted by the 

 restraint thus unavoidably produced. 



SHOES CONCAVE INJUKIOUS. 



There is also another cause oi derangement requiring 

 special notice, namely : the bearing surface at the heels is 

 usually inclined inward, ,or the inside edge is much lower 

 than the outer edge, often quite or more than a sixteenth 

 of an inch, which alone is sufficient to cause serious con- 

 traction. In addition to which the increased absorption of 

 moisture, induced both by inflammation and by keeping the 

 feet dry, tends directly to this end, since the dryer and 

 harder horn becomes, the more lessened in size. Of course, 

 if direct pressure is brought upon the foot, by which the 

 vascular structure beneath the shell is bruised and inflamed, 

 lameness and ultimate change of structure must ensue, 

 which, if permitted, may cause serious or even incurable 

 lameness. 



There is one peculiarity about contraction that seems to 

 puzzle even good practitioners, which is the increased 

 growth of the heels. The heels grow down rapidly, and 

 the shell becomes very thick, while the frog becomes small 

 and hard. If cut No. i6 is examined, the sole will be seen 

 to be arched. Now it is evident if the quarters are pressed 

 together, this bending of the sole upward is increased, 

 bringing increased pressure upon the suspensory ligaments 

 and coffin-joint, and force the coffin-joint upward and for- 

 ward against the hoof at its upper edge. 



