SIMPLIFIED AND UNFETTEllED. 73 



suspended, even by the most gross shoeing ; but 

 the iron and nails together prove the most rigid 

 fetter, in proportion as each nail has its antagonist 

 immediately opposite on the other quarter of the 

 foot. The consequences of this innovation on . . . 



niriiiniilion of 



nature are these: at no very distant period from ^'"^'''!'" '"^^ 



* *■ horny laiiiinar, 



the first shoeino- the sensible and horny laminae ;'"''"■''" '^'''? 



~ ' ^ to their iiiipair- 



become contracted; but as they remain entire in '^'.'^'"^"f *""c- 

 their organization, no pain ensues, the sole gra- 

 dually becomes preternaturally arched, and the ca- 

 pacity of the horny box is by so much diminished; 

 but yet this is not generally attended with pain, Consequent 



- -,, Iir>il encroachinent 



lor nature as gradually adapts herseli by her own of the homy 



resources to the change; the coffin bone actually natural arch. 



grows to the altered shape of the hoof by absorption 



and deposit ; and thus is the fetter repeated month 



after month ; and perhaps years pass away before Capacity of the 



11 • I T I 1 1 I • lioniy box di- 



actual lameness is established, though in too many miuished. 

 instances the reverse is the case. 



Every individual horse thus shod is exposed to 

 one of the principal predisposing causes of lame- 

 nesSj by the tendency it has, in conjunction with 

 other causes, to elevate the coffin bone within the 

 hoof, from limiting the action of these highly 

 elastic springs, and also favouring that protrusion 

 of the frog within the foot, before described : the 

 ravages which succeed to this state of the organ, 

 should the navicular joint happen to be bruised in 

 its sudden descent against these deformed and in- 



