80 OF THE DISEASES 



Where one heel shows a disposition to wire in, 

 it will be found advantageous to omit the posterior 

 nail on the side affected. Tips, however, give more 

 freedom to the foot than any sort of shoes, and may 

 be beneficially applied in many cases of contraction. 

 Their use will be further considered in the suc- 

 ceeding paragraph. 



Before quitting this portion of the subject it may 

 be necessary to remind the reader, that all diseases 

 of the foot do not terminate in contraction. Some, 

 such as laminitis, produce an opposite effect. 



Tips. 74. Some reasons have been given above in para- 



graphs 32 and 33, why closely fitted shoes, such as 

 have been recommended, are neither more likely to 

 cause contraction in sound, nor more objectionable 

 than other shoes in cases of contracted feet. If, 

 however, it be desired especially to guard against 

 contraction, or to give a horse with already con- 

 tracted feet every possible chance of recovery, let 

 him be shod with tips. 



A tip is intended to cover the toe and anterior 

 portion only of the quarter, whilst the heels, frog, 

 and bars are left uncovered, or unprotected, as some 

 call it. Practically, the length of a tip should be 

 rather less than half that of an ordinary shoe. 



The advantages gained by the use of tips 

 may be summed up under the following heads : — 



