THE FOOT AND ITS TREATMENT 



All nail holes must grow down as the horn grows, 

 and have no other way of disappearing; hence 

 the closer they are to the ground the quicker 

 they grow down and the sounder the foot, which 

 a number of different appertures greatly weakens. 

 For this reason, also, the nail holes should be 

 well spread apart, and the shoe not drawn too 

 tight; in fact it should always be easy at the 

 heels and quarters, and so that daylight is visible 

 between horn and metal there. Pricking and 

 serious wounds to the foot may be avoided and 

 proper direction of the nails insured if the nails 

 are gently driven with repeated taps of the ham- 

 mer and not banged home with a blow or two as 

 if one were welding a boiler-plate. Owners 

 should insist upon this precaution and leave any 

 artisan who will not take it. The man does n't 

 live who can properly and quickly apply a 

 shoe by " cold-fitting," and nothing is gained by 

 the process, any way. Excessive heat should not 

 be allowed in the shoe about to be applied, but 

 this mistake is not usual. 



Shoe always as lightly as is commensurate with 

 labor, and thus avoid all needless concussion, 

 and jar to feet, legs, and body. Our efforts 

 should all be directed to preserving the natural 



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