54 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 
tion the remaining part of the phalanx. We usually com- 
pare one foot with its fellow, but there are times when we 
have to ask ourselves the question, Are these feet as large 
as feet usually are belonging to horses of this size and 
class? or, on the other hand, we may have to regard them 
as too large. Now, when feet are of equal size, and are 
free from disease, but are larger in proportion to the 
body than common, you may regard it as of no conse- 
quence. So far as you are concerned, as it is neither an 
unsoundness nor does it of itself lead in any particular. 
way to unsoundness; but it is very different when they. 
are too small, that is, small out of proportion to the body. 
They may be perfectly sound, but you will not so readily 
satisfy yourselves on this pointason the last. You know 
that when a part is inflamed, nutrition, and therefore 
growth, is arrested. Now the foot of the horse, as also 
the entire body, enlarges by growth up to the fifth year, 
or more in many cases, and it comes to be a question 
whether small feet have not, during the period of their 
growth, suffered from inflammation in some degree, 
Inflammation would necessarily be of a mild form that 
would leave the foot without further evidences than those 
of arrested growth. If it had been present in a mild 
form it must have been of considerable duration, because 
after recovery from a mild attack a growing part resumes 
its growth. I have before told you that a part once 
acutely inflamed is ‘‘ never itself again,” and that there 
is no cause of inflammation nearly so potent as a previous 
inflammaticn. When inflammation has attacked the foot 
