158 COMPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



We sometimes meet with horses that 2:0 

 perfectly sound, though their hoofs are much 

 contracted ; on the other hand we often see 

 severe lameness produced by a shght degree 

 of contraction. In attempting to cure this 

 disease, the first step to be taken is to remove 

 carefully with a knife ail the rotten parts of 

 the frog, and apply tar to those whieh are 

 sound. A small quantity should also be poured 

 into the cleft of the frog ; this wuU promote 

 the secretion of horny matter, and if assisted 

 by pressure, will increase the solidity of that 

 which is already formed. The quarters and 

 heels are then to be rasped, particularly at the 

 coronet, and the superfluous parts of the sole 

 removed with a butteris and drawing knife. 

 The toe is to be shortened as much as can be 

 conveniently done; and if the heels be too 

 high, that is, if the crust at the heels be too 

 deep, it will be necessary to reduce it with the 

 butteris and rasp. It frequently happens, 

 however, in feet of this description, that the 

 heels are too low; in such cases they must be 

 carefully preserved ; and when a shoe is applied, 

 it should be made thicker at the heel than at 

 the toe, and somewhat longer than tliat recom- 

 mended for a sound foot. 



