692 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRACTICABILITY 
with the additions I have specified during the last fourteen years. 
I expand the heels with the force the screw enables me to apply 
very gradually, and at discretion, and then fit the shoe with the 
clip to it. I have frequently expanded the foot half an inch at a 
time without any bad effect. I have generally found that a horse 
which previously went digging with his toes, would, after this 
operation, tread naturally on his heels. In the cases where a thrush 
exists, some precaution is required : I take care to introduce a little 
tow in the cleft of the frog, and keep the foot moist*. 
Some of the cases I have had under my care have been in 
process of cure under the observation of persons of the highest 
respectability in the island. I may specify the horse belonging to 
a farmer of the name of Tardif. The foot was so contracted that 
the horn had no room left so as to secure its growth over the 
sensible frog. This foot I expanded in the presence of no less 
distinguished a witness than our highly honoured Lieut.-Governor, 
Major General Napier, a name borne by heroes of whom every 
true British heart may well be proud. 
“ Resolved to gain a valiant name, 
For bold adventures eager.” 
Soon after the second expansion, this horse acquired a bold and 
firm frog. As his Excellency was pleased to intimate his desire 
to see the effect produced by the plan when considered by me as 
complete, I requested the owner to take the horse to Government 
House, and I was not a little gratified to learn that it called forth 
expressions of approbation from the General, whose attention to 
questions of the highest importance has not rendered his penetrating 
mind indifferent to details even of this class. 
Another case, in the treatment of which my mode was perfectly 
successful, was one of the coach horses belonging to S. E. Hoskins, 
M.D., F.R.S. The lameness apparently proceeded from some 
injury in the fetlock, it being considerably swelled and inflamed, 
with undue secretion of synovia in the joint. The usual applica- 
tions were had recourse to ; inflammation subsided, the swelling 
was reduced, and the horse considered fit for work. But he soon 
fell lame again. I then perceived a thrush which to all appearance 
had been dried up ; to which occurrence the lameness was probably 
attributable. I expanded his foot : after an interval of little more 
than a week I rode him. He went perfectly sound, and never 
dropped. 
This cause of lameness, which disappears with the use of the 
means I have recommended, is easily explained. When the heels 
* We have ourselves seen the screw-dilating-shoe used with ^ood effect, 
and without any evil result following. — Editor. 
