IS 



effect of shoeing seems to be still further to diminish this 

 power by obstructing the expansion of the hoof, and thereby 

 exposing the membrane, which secretes the horn, to undue 

 pressure ; indeed in the generahty of feet it would appear 

 almost to check the growth of the frog altogether ; for, if 

 we compare the size of the frog with the cu'cumference of 

 the foot in a horse, long accustomed to be shod, we shall find 

 the space, occui^ied by it, will not exceed one tenth, or one 

 twelfth of the whole circumference ; whereas in the natural 

 and unshod foot it occupies about one sixth. Now this 

 dwindling down to one half its proper size is the direct effect 

 of shoeing and paring ; but I believe, that nuich the larger 

 portion of the mischief is attributable to the unnecessary 

 evil of paring, rather than to the necessary one of shoeing. 

 The reason, assigned for further mutilating this fast diminishing 

 organ at every shoeing, is a most unfounded dread, that it 

 woidd " ran all over the foot," if it were not for the con- 

 trolhng influence of the drawing knife ; and so general is 

 this belief, that it is entertained more or less by almost 

 every smith, notwithstanding the daily, nay hourly, evidence, 

 that is presented to his senses of the gradual, but certain, 

 diminxition of the frogs of nearly all the horses, he shoes. 

 I have horses in my possession, whose frogs have not 

 been touched by a knife for many years, and yet it has 

 never occurred to any one, that they are overgrown ; but 

 every one is attracted by the evenness of surface, and fine 

 expanded cleft, which they present. Perhaps about one in a 

 thousand may form an exception, where a large, loose-textured 

 frog may require a little paring once or twice in a year. 



