110 



panied by the ascent of the frog, the closing in of the quarters, 

 and by increasing the area enclosed by the anterior and antero- 

 lateral parts of the wall ; so the requisite means being taken to 

 force the sole upwards, and to expand the quarters, the ascent 

 of the sole is followed by a descent of the frog, the widening of 

 the quarters, and a diminution of the space enclosed by the 

 anterior and antero-lateral portions of the wall. 



COMMON SENSE SHOEING THE DESIDERATUM. 



Such is the present state of general information upon the 

 subject of shoes and shoeing, and their relations to the produc- 

 tion or prevention of diseases of the feet of horses, that thou- 

 sands of these "noble quadrupeds" are to be found in this 

 chronic condition, in its different stages, who are suffering an 

 incalculable amount of misery, which for the most part, is abso- 

 lutely preventable and curable by one and the same means, 

 namely, a common-sense method of shoeing. The incurable 

 are the old confirmed cases of pumiced foot, and I am not cer- 

 tain that a large percentage of these would not yield to a 

 persevering application of the principles upon which the more 

 recent cases are recoverable. 



HOW TO SHOE THE PUMICED FOOT. 



The following are Spooner's directions for shoeing a. pumiced 

 foot, which in old cases I cannot improve : 



" The assistance of the leather sole and the bar shoe is called 

 for in these cases ; the former for the purpose of diminishing 

 concussion, and protecting the sole ; the latter for affording 

 pressure to the frog, and thus enabling it to relieve the crust 

 by supporting a portion of the superincumbent weight. Un- 

 usual care, however, is necessary in the application of the sole, 

 and the arrangement of the tow and stopping under it, in order 

 that there should be no undue pressure at any particular part. 

 Equal care, too, must be exercised in driving the nails, in con- 

 sequence of the thinness of the horn, and for the same reason 

 they should not be too large, although it is necessary that they 



