372 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 
prosecuted for practising unsoling for the relief of side-bone. 
Practically only one other member of the profession was 
able to come forward and defend the operation on the score 
of its utility. We see now, however, that—as does Smith’s 
operation—unsoling does permit of the greater expansion 
of the heels. The contraction is done away with, the 
pressure on the sensitive lamine again diminished, and the 
lameness relieved. 
Not that we are attempting to defend the operation—far 
from it. We simply mention it as interesting, and quote 
this and the use of the bar shoe (with both of which 
methods older operators have claimed success) merely as 
evidence that the operation of Smith is based on a logical 
foundation. 
When treatment is decided on, therefore, we may first 
advise blistering and the use of a bar shoe. After that, 
should the lameness continue, and should we still judge 
the side-bone to be the cause of it, the operation may be 
advised. 
As we have said before, the operation consists in so 
grooving the wall as to allow of the quarters widening suffi- 
ciently to relieve pressure on the parts within. In one or 
two previous portions of this work we have considered 
operations involving this procedure. Before detailing the 
operation here, therefore, we will first describe the instru- 
ments necessary, and the most satisfactory methods of 
incising the horn. 
To begin with, it must be remembered that all methods 
of hoof section have for their object the after-expansion of 
the horny box, and that this can only be brought about by 
making each groove complete from coronary margin to solar 
edge of the wall, and carrying it, throughout its length, 
deep enough to reach the commencement of the sensitive struc- 
tures. 
To this end, therefore, the operator must bear in mind 
the comparative thickness of the various parts of the wall, 
and must, in particular, remember the relative thinness of 
