94 THE horse's rescue. 



thrown back in ihis position. All talk. And I let 

 tliem. I bad to. 



Mr. Brees's nepbew bad a good eigbt-year-old liorse, 

 which I wanted to get to cure. I told him I would 

 do the job for ten dollars, as it would be an easy one. 

 When I first talked with him I could not persuade 

 him to let me have the horse, and I dropped down on 

 the price. It was of no use. I was obliged to give it 

 up. His horse's heels v/ere walled up very high, 

 tipped on knee; Jame in one foot — lame in both, but 

 he eould not see it I told the owner that if he was 

 mine I would cut the heels down, and straighten the 

 horse out very quick. He looked at me when I was 

 talking. I walked away in search of another suf- 

 ferer, which I should soon have room for. 



Let us go and see how Mike is getting along. It is 

 morning, and not light yet. All is quiet, all sleeping. 

 We will have to go to the shop, heat some water, take 

 the tub to the barn, and soak his feet while he eats 

 his breakfast. Then we will take him to the shop. 



It may be necessary to state the plan I intended to 

 follow out in experimenting to prevent inflammation 

 taking place by expanding Mike's feet so much at one 

 time. I well understood this contraction and expand- 

 ing principle that was constantly at work, caused by 

 wet and dry weather, and tight and loose shoes. It 

 did not kill all its victims, but a great many it did. 

 I had now to spread tlie foot and flatten it out at 

 once. If I did not do it, there would be no cure. 

 The plan was to have the foot as soft and pliable as I 

 could make it, so as not to hurt the horse. Tiien I must 

 watch his feet bv feeling to see that no unnatural heat 



