302 THE FORE LIMB, 



greater than it is in the dry weather. Hence, we may reason- 

 ably conclude that this stimulation in growth is one of length 

 of horn, and not one of increased horny material The case, 

 I submit, is somewhat analogous to that of plants, which, 

 under the influence of an excess of moisture, spring up quickly, 

 with tissues full of water, but with little solid matter. The 

 great trouble with heavy cart-horses in England is from 

 the weakness of their hoofs, the horn of which, as a rule, is 

 neither thicker nor stronger than that of well-bred horses ; 

 although the strain which falls on It is much greater than that 

 which tries the tenacity of the horn of the feet of saddle 

 horses. Considering the greater size of the muscles and 

 bones of the draught animal, we should expect that the horn 

 of his hoofs would be proportionately stronger than that of 

 the half-bred. The fact that it is not stronger, is a proof 

 that English cart-horses are deficient in one of the most im- 

 portant points of usefulness. Veterinary surgeons in practice 

 in England and Scotland could tell us that the large majority 

 (I would say about nine-tenths) of cart-horses which come to 

 them for treatment, are foot cases. The ideal hoof of a cart- 

 horse should in no way differ from that which is most suitable 

 to a light trapper, hunter, or race-horse, except that it should 

 be larger and consequently stronger. Therefore, we should 

 regard with disfavour the weak feet, with their low, spread- 

 out heels and flat soles, which, from their frequent occurrence, 

 have become too generally accepted as characteristic of cart- 

 horses. Small contracted feet are equally bad. 



The inner quarter of the foot is more upright than the 

 outer quarter, and its ground surface is straighter ; conditions 

 which provide for the fact of more weight falling on the inner 

 than on the outer part of the foot. The horn has its 

 maximum amount of thickness at the toe (at which part there 

 is the greatest amount of wear from friction with the ground), 

 and gradually gets thinner as it approaches the heels. As 

 the fore feet are intended to support more weight than the 

 hind feet; their ground surface is broader, their frogs are 

 larger, and their heels are lower. 



