APPENDIX. 105 



extent, will preserve the Foot of the horse im- 

 nmtllated. 



The direct object of this Appendix is, respect- 

 fully to declare to the members of the turf, that I shall 

 feel only partially satisfied by their adopting this 

 new method of shoeing if practised upon the fore 

 feet exclusively; and therefore I urge them to ex- 

 tend the benefit of the unfettered system to the 

 hind feet also : I allude more particularly to grow- 

 ing colts. 



In the course of these pages having descanted 

 minutely on the manner in which the fore foot 

 becomes deprived of its elasticity, and having 

 shewn that it may sustain such a loss without a 

 necessary accession of lameness, I think we may 

 fairly conclude by analogy, that the hind foot, al- 

 though exempt from the particular kind of lame- 

 ness to which the fore foot is liable, may suffer 

 some deprivation of its elasticity from the continued 

 application of the fetter, although less in degree 

 than the fore foot. 



All must admit, that without elasticity there can 

 be no speed. However inconsiderable the degree 

 in which the elasticity of the hind foot may be 

 impaired, if the elastic horny box shall have merely 

 acquired any increased rigidity, without the slight- 

 est disturbance of its sensitive contents ; or even if 

 the full development of growth of this organ be in 

 any part curtailed, then I maintain the race-horse 



I 



