CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
451 
the frog, are necessary. The toe is excised as far as possible back- 
wards, and thus leverage is diminished, which greatly promotes 
healthy union. The belief that the flexor tendon exerts a degree of 
tension in drawing backwards the coffin bone is erroneous, and 
supported by no fact in anatomy or physiology. In his opinion, 
those shoes having a rounded inferior or ground surface are pre- 
judicial, and have a tendency to induce pressure on parts which 
require relief. Heavy shoes, he also considered, are unsuited, on 
account of the great waste of muscular power which is occasioned 
by them. Mr. Fleming concluded by quoting illustrative cases in 
which his treatment had succeeded after failure under other methods, 
and particularly pointed out the necessity for using blisters to the 
coronet at occasional intervals, and avoiding the use of nails at or 
near the toe, rather making choice of the heels and other portions 
of the wall, where greater substance and integrity exists for main- 
taining a firm hold. 
Mr. T. D. Broad, Bath, submitted a number of specimens which 
he had collected, each bearing a date and number, in order to attest 
their various conditions. He maintained that the separation spoken 
of is not caused by mechanical agency, as the interposition of horn 
substance and debris of the process of inflammation. The filling 
up of the space is due to subsequent action, and the separation is 
primarily occasioned by the inflammation which suspends nutrition 
and destroys the bond of union. He quite agreed with Mr. Fleming 
as to the desirability of removing the excess of horn from the toe, 
in order to avoid unnatural strain, and also as to the essential 
pressure on the sole, by shoes suitably fitted for the purpose. By 
following these plans, and promoting the growth of hoof, perfect 
restoration to soundness is effected, together with proper formation 
of hoof. 
Mr. J. Rowe , jun., agreed with the previous speakers in the 
general tenor of their remarks, but felt there is a great difficulty 
existing throughout a metropolitan practice in the want of time to 
carry out these principles. Owners are usually averse to their 
animals being off work, and rarely submit to necessary lengthened 
treatment. 
Mr. W. Hunting agreed mainly with the indications of cure, and 
considered it necessary to avoid pressure when or where its results 
are manifest in greater separation. He, however, could not admit 
the assertions against the use of the so-called “ dished ” or “ bason- 
shaped ” shoes in all cases. Certain states of disease may be bene- 
fited by the treatment propounded by the essayist, but there are 
forms which would be improved by no other than the “ dished 
shoe,” properly adjusted. He could understand that, when the 
heels and wall are defective, an unequal amount of pressure would 
ensue, but thought if the quarters are left full and the shoe pro- 
perly adjusted, those conditions would be equivalent to shortening 
the toe. He considered Mr. Fleming’s shoe inapplicable, as the 
bearing surface is not even, and, as is well known, from unequal 
pressure, lameness always follows. A convex sole requires a con- 
