CHAP. IV.] THE HOOF, HOW PREPARED. 505 



or the military service, are said to approve of Mr. 

 Coleman's patent ; for they purchase good numbers, 

 so 'tis said, of those which are cast of the new mal- 

 leable metal spoken of at pages 503 and 514. 



Of preparing the hoof. — The general principle 

 of all shoeing is to support the foot off the ground 

 by means of the wall or crust, and by this only ; 

 so that the frog shall not come in contact with the 

 hard plain road, whilst it maybe allowed to receive 

 pressure upon going over soft ground: the first 

 prevents injuries and resists wear and tear, the latter 

 promotes the secretion of healthy horn, by reason 

 of the proper degree of pressure that is to prevent 

 this being' received by the heel, frog, and bars. 

 Whatever is here said, the fore foot is still kept in 

 view, unless the hinder foot is particularly men- 

 tioned ; and occasion will present itself for the dis- 

 tinction, as there is great difference in the wall and 

 other external shape between the two, as regards 

 heavy draught cattle. Greater heat, fever, and af- 

 fections of the lungs also cause the fore feet to con- 

 tract disorders unknown at the hind feet ; whilst a 

 tardy circulation of the blood, and the consequent 

 relaxation of the animal system, to say nothing of 

 the evils incurred by heavy drags against the collar, 

 produce affections peculiar to the hind leg that are 

 not known on the foi*e leg. 



When very much flaky or rotten horn presents 

 itself, the sole should then be pared the least, or 

 not at all, for this is a proof that great heat, or 

 inflammation, affects the whole sensible foot, and 



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