2 DISEASES OF THE HORSE'S FOOT 



properly trimmed, its shape is liable to serious alteration. 

 From that in which it is best calculated to withstand the 

 effects of the wear it will be called upon to endure in after 

 life, it may become so changed for the worse as to seriously 

 affect the animal's value. 



In the matter of feeding, too, trouble is likely to ensue. 

 Particularly is this the case where the colt shows points 

 of exceptional merit. He is 'got up' for show, and the 

 feet are likely to fall victims to the mismanagement that 

 frequent exhibition so often carries with it. An extra 

 allowance of peas, beans, wheat, or other equally injurious 

 food is given. The result is a severe attack of laminitis, 

 and an otherwise valuable and promising colt is perma- 

 nently ruined. 



Exposed as it is, too, to injury, the foot of a young horse, 

 even at grass, is frequently the seat of injuries from picked 

 up nails, stakes, or other agents which, unless detected and 

 carefully treated, may terminate in a troublesome case of 

 quittor and incurable lameness. 



With the passing of colthood, and the coming into effect 

 of the evils of further domestication, the troubles to which 

 the foot is open become more numerous. Foremost among 

 them will come those having their starting-point in errors 

 of practice originating in the forge ; for, in spite of attempts 

 at their education, smiths, as a class, are yet grievously 

 unversed in even the elementary knowledge of the delicate 

 construction of the member that is entrusted to their care. 



This fact has been dilated on in books devoted to shoeing, 

 and in the prefatory note to the last edition of Fleming's 

 manual on this subject we find the following statement: 

 'The records of all humane societies show that, of prosecu- 

 tions for cruelty to animals, an overwhelming majority 

 refer to the horse ; and of these, a large proportion are for 

 working horses while suffering from lameness in one form 

 or other. 



' So frequent are such cases that observers have concluded 

 that their prevalence must result from some specific cause, 

 and, not unnaturally, attention has thus been directed to 



