54 THE hokse's eescue. 



"Cure him?" 



"Ko." 



" Well, tliis shoe is on at last. The weight is in 

 center nearly. His knee is a little weak, but I guess 

 he is about balanced on that foot. Let us shoe the 

 other." 



".What is this cutting around the coronet or top of 



hoof?" 



" A veterinarian told me the coronet band was too 

 tio-ht It should be cut so as to give it room to ex- 

 pand ?" 



"Did it help him? 



"No." 



" That operation of spreading the foot by fitting 

 the shoe wider than the foot, so you could see the nail 

 holes all around, commence at the toe and starting all 

 of the nails and driving, no matter how high, by alter- 

 nate raps so as to spread the foot where it was con- 

 tracted ; and another process for contracting his heels 

 to tighten up the coffin-joint when it gets too much 

 play ; that is, when it gets to cutting through neglect 

 to oil ; and a few other great discoveries on horses' 

 feet, cost this government twenty-five thousand dol- 

 lars in the time of the Rebellion." 



" It's larger at the top than it is at the bottom. I 

 guess that, let it spread." 



"Did you take the shoes off when you cut the 

 coronet band ?" 



"No." 



" Were the fore legs braced out?" 



"Yes." 



" If he had stood up straight, as he now does, it would 



