CRACKED HEELS. 97 



j)ositive injury to the feet, and Las also a tendency to crack the heels. 

 There is trouble enough from the liability of the skin to crack be- 

 tween the foot and pastern, without aggravating a tendency which is 

 unavoidable at times, with the best of care. Cracked heels are one 

 of the most pestering things which the trainer has to contend against 

 in the category of minor troubles, and frequently they are of major 

 importance. Not alone from the pain which causes the animal to 

 shorten its stride, but, in aggravated cases, the inflammatory action 

 extends to the tendons, and the breaking down which results, if the 

 work is continued, is due, perhaps, to the use of water. The erro- 

 neous impression which is so prevalent that moisture is beneficial to 

 the foot, has done gi-eat injury. 



This has arisen from the palliation of the injuries which resulted 

 from improper shoeing, and from the mutilations of the foot, which 

 it is thought that it is the impei-ative diity of the blacksmith to 

 accomplish. This renders the horn brittle, and temporary elasticity 

 is gained by the artificial moisture. The natural foot has none of its. 

 functions impaired. The seci'etory vessels are allowed full play,, 

 strengthened by action, and the deposit, consequently, is of the right 

 character. The thousands of minute tubes are filled with healthy 

 fluid, and these are not marred by knife or nail. When worn away 

 by the attrition between the foot and the ground, there is the same- 

 safeguaixl against depletion as follows the searing of an artery, and, 

 the lower portion is glazed with the friction, which also accomplishes, 

 another beneficial duty, viz.: the prevention of absorption of moist- 

 ure. Anyone who will take the trouble to examine the natural foot 

 of the horse will find that ample provision has been made to exclude' 

 water. The born is coated with an enamel which is as impervious to^ 

 the entrance of moisture as a plate of glass, and the sole in a natural 

 state will also exclude it. This phase of the foot question was forci- 

 bly presented from a conversation with a gentleman a few days ago.. 

 He had formerly been a blacksmith, but for the past number of yeai-s> 

 has been engaged in driving cattle, formei'ly from Texas, and later 

 from the mountain ranges. We obtained much valuable information 

 from him, which will be bi'iefly, and only in small part, alluded to. 

 now, as we hope to have a longer interview, and whick we will ert- 



