22 RATIONAL HORSE-SHOEING. 



upon the same bone, and, if unsupported by 

 the natural cushion of the foot, the action of the 

 bone pressing the sensitive sole upon iron causes 

 the bruise which, for lack of another name, is 

 called a corn. The horse thus shod would 

 never have a quarter crack, for that is the im- 

 mediate effect of contraction caused by the 

 absence of the expanding action of the frog 

 and the consequent dead condition of the hoof 

 from want of circulation and proper secre- 

 tions. The horse would be equally free from 

 " drop " and " pumiced " sole, seedy toe, 

 thrush, and kindred complaints. 



INCIPIENT UNSOUNDNESS. 



It is almost impossible to find a horse per- 

 fectly sound in his feet, unless one looks 

 (strange as it may seem) into the stables of 

 the Third Avenue Railroad Company, or those 

 of Adams' Express, or Dodd's Transfer Com- 

 pany, or into some of the other s tables where 

 our shoe and system are in faithful use ; we 

 will therefore call attention to such a case as 

 will be generally presented at the forge : A 

 good young horse, shod for several years 



