FAULTY CONFORMATION 141 
stances it is that the horse goes lame, and not with the 
hoof of normal shape. 
Seeing, then, that this condition is largely dependent 
upon the shape of the foot, we may, to some extent, regard 
it as hereditary. Seeing further, however, that it only 
appears when shoeing is commenced, we may in a greater 
degree also regard it as acquired. The lesson, therefore, 
that this and other forms of contraction should teach us is 
the carefulness with which the shoeing should be super- 
Fic. 79.—Hoor wits Locat on Coronary CONTRACTION (AS INDICATED 
AT THE POINTS a; a). 
intended in a large stud, or in any case where the animal 
-is of more than ordinary value. 
The explanation of the restricted nature of this form of 
contraction is simple enough. We have only to refer to 
the lessons taught by the experiments of Lungwitz, de- 
scribed in Chapter III., and the condition almost explains 
itself. We remember that, briefly, the coronary margin of 
the wall resembles a closed elastic ring, which yields and 
expands to local pressure, no matter how slight. ‘We 
