440 RADICALLY MIS-SHAPEN FEET, HOW [BOOK III. 



one or other of the many diseases of the foot, 

 which we come shortly to take into consideration. 

 He will know, also, that besides this error of birth, 

 there are others of mismanagement : as, the employ- 

 ment of horses in work that is beyond their powers, 

 or of that kind for which nature never designed 

 them ; either of which is as likely to bring on dis- 

 tortion of the foot, and its train of disorders, as any 

 accident of birth. Natural defects go much farther 

 than shape or make, and the distinction between 

 these and the inflicted, or acquired, may be aptly 

 illustrated by the fact, that white-legged horses, 

 whatever be their shape, are more disposed to con- 

 tract " grease" than those of any other colour. 

 This is, therefore, a natural predisposition to that 

 disease; whilst the animal which is suffered to 

 contract the " grease" entirely through mismanage- 

 ment suffers an infliction as much as another, which, 

 being put upon hard services, throws out splents, 

 spavin, curb, &c. in consequence. 



Furthermore, the shoeing-smith who should in- 

 form himself of the primary causes of badly-formed 

 feet would carry on his business with the greatest 

 emolument to himself, and with most satisfaction 

 to his employers ; for he would adapt his shoes to 

 the natural defects, whilst the acquired ones he 

 would amend by degrees, until he could control the 

 horses' heels to a healthy shape, and thus promote 

 the regeneration of healthy horn. He should also 

 accustom himself to reflect on the various breeds of 

 horses that are brought under his care, their limbs 



