XVUl. PREFACE. 



amounting in the aggregate to half a square inch upon the 

 whole superficial area of the foot, which gain can only arise 

 fi'om the foot ha\'ing expanded to the weight of the horse, 

 or, I should rather say, to the weight of the forehand of the 

 liorse ; because in this experiment it will be remembered, that 

 the foot was merely placed upon the board on the ground, 

 and the opposite foot held up, calling for no exertion on the 

 part of the horse, or in any way interfering with his hind 

 legs, or jjreventing them from continuing to sustain the weight 

 of the hind quarters. Now if we find, that under these cir- 

 cumstances the foot for an inch aiid a half from the heel 

 spreads out to the extent of the eighth of an inch, it is surely 

 not too much to infer, that the exjDansion will be greater, 

 when the combined weight of horse and rider is thrown with 

 considerable impetus upon one, or other of the fore feet, as 

 it is after every stride in a fast pace. 



The largest amount of exj^ansion, I have ever met with, 

 occurred in the foot of a horse, that had been nerved some 

 four or five months before ; it was very nearly double that 

 of the foot, we have been considering. 



There are one or two circumstances, connected with the 

 subject of this experiment and his feet, which it may not 

 be uninteresting to mention, as showing the gradual im- 

 provement, that took place in him, after he had been some 

 time in my stable, both as regards his own comfort, and his 



