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CHAPTER VI. 



DEOP SOLE AND PUMICED FOOT. 



miserable condition of the abused 

 animal is N ature's fiercest protest against 

 the ignorance and carelessness of man. A 

 horse set upon heavy shoes, and those armed 

 with calks at toe and heel, such as are usually 

 inflicted upon large draft-horses, has his 

 whole weight placed upon the unsupported 

 sole. The frog never comes in contact with 

 the earth in any way, inflammation of the 

 sensitive frog and sole takes place, and the 

 arch of the sole bends down under the pres- 

 sure until the ground surface of the hoof be- 

 comes flat or convex, bulging down even 

 lower than the cruel iron that clamps its 

 edge. This is the condition of a drop sole. 

 This degenerate state of the foot has other com- 

 plications. Active inflammation is often pres- 

 ent and all the wretchedness of a pumiced foot 

 the despair of owner and veterinary is ex- 

 perienced. The smith, whose clumsy contriv- 

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