DISEASES OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGES 377 



order to judge of their regularity. If we are satisfied with 

 them, we then lightly mark them with the saw. with the 

 hot iron, or with the knife, whichever instrument we may 

 be intending to use. 



Unless the details are methodically carried out as here 

 described, it is probable that more of the foot will be isolated 

 than is necessary, and that as a consequence very little 

 is left to which to nail the shoe. 



Fig. 149. — Diagram illustrating the Position of the Grooves 

 made in the Hoof in Colonel Smith's Operation for Side- 

 bones. 



i, 2, and 3, show the grooves in the wall in the order in which they 

 are made ; 4 shows the groove made at the junction of the sole 



with the wall. 



The incisions are then made with the saw or the knife, 

 with the foot held in a convenient position by an assistant. 

 That usually found most comfortable for the first incision is 

 with the foot held forwards and placed on an assistant's 

 thigh in the position adopted for ' clenching up ' when 

 shoeing, while that for the rear incision is with the animal's 

 knee flexed, and the foot held well up to the elbow. In 

 this, however, each operator will suit himself. 



Should the preliminary steps in making the incisions be 

 performed with the iron, it will be easiest done with the 

 foot on the ground. 



