590 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
grow more rapidly than the low side whose pododerm is relatively 
anemic as a result of the greater weight falling into this half of the 
hoof, and the ultimate result will be a “ wry,” or crooked foot. 
THE CARE OF UNSHOD HOOFS. 
The colt should have abundant exercise on dry ground. The hoofs 
will then wear gradually, and it will only be necessary from time to 
time to regulate any uneven wear with the rasp and to round off the 
sharp edge about the toe in order to prevent breaking away of the 
wall. 
Colts in the stable can not wear down their hoofs, so that every 
four to six weeks they should be rasped down and the lower edge of 
the wall well rounded to pre- 
vent chipping. The soles and 
clefts of the frog should be 
picked out every few days 
and the entire hoof washed 
clean. Plenty of clean straw 
litter should be provided. 
Hoofs that are becoming 
‘awry ” should have the wall 
shortened in such a manner 
as to straighten the foot- 
axis. This will ultimately 
produce a good hoof and will 
improve the position of the 
ite ; 
ie limb. 
Fic, 1.—Ground surface of a right fore hoof of CHARACTERISTICS OF A 
the regular form: a, a, wall; aa, the toe; HEALTHY HOOF. 
a-b, the side walls; b-d, the quarters; c, ¢, 
the bars; d, d, the buttress; e, lateral cleft of 
the frog; f, body of the sole; g, g’, g’”’, leafy A healthy hoof (figs. 1 and 
layer (white line) of the toe and bars; h, 8) is equally warm at all 
body of the frog; i, i, branches of the frog; ie ~ 
k, k, horny bulbs of the heels; 1, middle cleft parts, and is not tender under 
of the frog. pressure with the hands or 
moderate compression with pincers. The coronet is soft and elastic 
at all points and does not project beyond the surface of the wall. 
The wall (fig. 8) is straight from coronet to ground, so that a 
straightedge laid against the wall from coronet to ground parallel 
to the direction of the horn tubes will touch at every point. The 
wall should be covered with the outer varnishlike layer (periople) 
and should show no cracks or clefts. Every hoof shows “ring for- 
mation,” but the rings should not be strongly marked and should 
always run parallel to the coronary band. Strongly marked ring- 
formation over the entire wall is an evidence of a weak hoof, but 
