CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 787 



well back under the feet, the use of a square toe and quarter 

 clips, and rounding the toe of the shoe so as to leave no 

 sharp edge to cut. These simple measures will generally 

 prevent forging, but where in spite of them the heel 

 gets cut, preventive measures in the fore foot must be 

 adopted. The one we have found the most useful is to 

 allow the heel of the fore foot to grow unduly high, the 

 blow then instead of falling on the junction of the skin and 

 hoof, falls below it on the hoof itself. In some cases a pro- 

 tective mechanism is required, but they are difficult to 

 adjust and keep in their place. 



For protection against speedy cutting a properly fitting 

 boot which laces on the shank is necessary, with a portion 

 carried up to protect the part. In fact with a little care in 

 fitting and adjustment the rubber sole and heel of a canvas 

 shoe make an excellent protection ; the sole saves the 

 shank from injury, while the heel takes the blows inflicted 

 on the knee, but the greatest nicety is required in the 

 fitting. 



Boots may also be used for brushing, though one or two 

 good rubber rings are probably most generally useful ; in 

 their absence the Yorkshire boot made of a piece of blanket 

 is an excellent protection. 



LAMENESS. 



In the section dealing with Condition, we have gone with 

 a certain amount of detail into the question of lameness, 

 as it is impossible to separate the two. 



Here we must consider other features of lameness and 

 how it is produced, but always bearing in mind the impor- 

 tance of condition. 



Irregular work, by which we mean relatively long periods 

 of rest followed by work, is a common cause of lameness, 

 not only because the animal is out of condition, but for the 

 reason that long-continued rest is not an unmixed blessing. 



Navicular disease may be produced by resting a horse in 

 a stable and not allowing it to lie down. That such cases 



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