722 SHOEINGf. 



MEASURING THE SLOPE OF THE HOOF.— Fig. 183 will 

 explain the action of a clinometer which. I have devised for this 

 purpose. It can be made out of a piece of wood, ivory, metal, 

 cardboard, or other suitable material, and it is provided with a 

 plumb line. 



LOWERING THE HOOF.— If the foot is of the proper slope, 

 but too long, it should be reduced equally at heels, quarters, and 

 toe (Fig. 184). If the toe be too long, but the heels of right 

 height, the toe should be lowered in a straight line to the heels, 

 which should not be touched (Fig. 185); and vice versa. 



Weight -bearing Surfaces of the Foot. 



The horn of the wall, sole, frog and bars is secreted by a 

 membrane which, to borrow the words of Chauveau, covers a 

 portion of the pedal bone and soft structures of the foot, like a 

 sock ; while the hoof acts the part of a boot. As this mem- 

 brane is highly sensitive; the ground surface of the foot is 

 constructed so that the necessary weight-bearing points may be 

 obtained without injury to it. With this object, that portion 

 of the sole which is immediately underneath the pedal bone, and 

 which is protected by hard horn, is constructed in the form 

 of an arch; for were it level, the membrane would, at every 

 step, be in danger of becoming pinched between these two hard 

 substances — the sole and the pedal bone. Tte weight-bearing 

 surfaces, therefore, are as follows: — (1) the ground surface of the 

 wall and that portion of the sole which is not directly underneath 

 the pedal bone (see a h on right-hand side of Fig. 186); (2) the 

 frog, which is endowed with elasticity, and which consequently can 

 bear pressure without getting its secreting membrane hurt; (3) 

 the bars, which are continuations of the wall. We may readily 

 see that the weight-supporting functions of the frog, outer portion 

 of the sole, and bars, should be fully utilised ; for if the wall alone 

 be subjected to concussion, the resulting strain on that portion 

 of the secreting membrane which the wall covers, namely, the sen- 

 sitive laminae, may become so excessive, that laminitis may ensue. 

 The weight-^bearing surface at the toe is far broader than at the 

 heels (Fig. 72, p. 217); for the slope of the foot is less, and the 

 thickness of the wall greater, at the former, than at the latter. 

 That portion of the sole—" the seat of corn " (Fig. 73, p. 221)— 

 which lies in the angle formed by the wall and the bars, should 

 on no account bear weight; because a part of the pedal bone is 

 immediately above it, and the sole which covers it is very thin. 



