134 SHOES CONCAVE INJURIOUS. 



Now if you look at cut No. 7, you will discover an artery 

 passing down each side of the leg, which divides above the 

 hoof into two branches, one forward around the edge of 

 the hoof, and another back to the heel, which again throw 

 off innumerable branches.. The office of these arteries is 

 to supply material for the growth of horn. Now the pres- 

 sure induced upon the coffin-bone by the pressing of the 

 sole against it as before explained, forces the coffin-bone 

 against the upper edge of the hoof, and thus presses directly 

 upon this artery, thereby obstructing the flow of blood to 

 this part, and forcing it back into those supplying horn at 

 the heels. Hence the forward part of the hoof grows 

 slowly and becomes thin, while the heels grow down rapidly, 

 becoming high and thick. 



The first and important object in curing disease is, to 

 remove the cause. We must do more than this in the cure 

 of contraction by removing the surplus horn accumulated 

 and applying mechanical pressure in such a way as to gradu- 

 ally spread the foot back to its natural form, so far as it will 

 bear. 



To do this we must first thoroughly soften the feet by 

 poulticing. Next cut down the heels to within an eighth 

 of an inch or more of the sole. Cut down carefully be- 

 tween the bars and frog. If not careful> you will cut 

 through and bring blood at the extreme of the heel, while 

 you have not cut deep enough farther forward. Follow the 

 curve of the sole, aiming to cut out an average depth until 

 the heels will yield easily to a little pressure. 



The next object is to gradually force the heels outward. 

 There are three ways of doing this : 



First, (this is the treatment, I am informed, used by Mr. 

 ROBERT BONNER of the New York Ledger, who is undoubt- 

 ly one of the most careful students of the foot, and of the 

 conditions necessary in shoeing to keep it in a healthy con- 

 dition, in this country,) form the shoe of an equal thickness 

 all the way round, with nail holes punched well back in the 

 heels, and fit accurately to the foot, so that it will come out 

 even with the edge of the hoof. Now drive the nails care- 

 fully, so that they will be deep enough into the horn to hold 

 firmly without endangering pricking, leaving the points 

 stick down straight. After all are driven down, pull them 

 out again. Heat the shoe and spread it about one-eighth 



