78 OP THE DISEASES 



force than the other ; and in consequence the foot 

 which is most severely used becomes somewhat 

 larger than the other, which is comparatively saved. 



Bad shoeing, however, rather than actual disease, 

 is in most instances the cause of contraction. The 

 too common practices of rasping the crust, of 

 cutting away the frog and bars, and of so-called 

 opening the heels, have a marked tendency, as has 

 been explained at length in the previous chapter, 

 to produce contraction. 



The fore feet, for reasons already given, generally 

 suffer more than the hind feet from the effects of 

 bad shoeing. Inasmuch as these causes generally 

 affect both fore feet, we often find contraction in 

 both. 



The heels suffer more from contraction than 

 other parts of the feet, because the ill effect of 

 cutting away the bars and frog and opening the 

 heels aggravate at this part the mischief done by 

 rasping the crust. Contraction at the heels is also 

 aggravated by the ordinary system of shoeing, 

 which throws undue wear on the anterior portion 

 of the foot, and thereby deprives the posterior parts 

 of that amount of work and wear which are essen- 

 tial for their due and healthy development. 



Contraction is not usually in itself a primary 

 disease, but is generally the result of disease or of 

 mal-usage of the foot. The treatment of contracted 

 feet must therefore vary according to the causes 



