VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
241 
fore feet ; brought out to yard, horse was then lame on near 
fore foot. Witness formed an opinion as to cause ; there 
was inclination to flat formation of sole, which is a natural 
formation, with a weak crust ; also observed that general 
substance of crust was a good deal split up, as if in conse- 
quence of frequent removal of shoes and nails. One nail in 
particular had been bent inwards, so as to press on sensitive 
part of hoof — this had occasioned inflammation. Does not 
recollect which nail it was. Certain shoes were coarsely 
made, which were exhibited to him by a person whom he 
does not recollect. Did not examine the shoes on hind feet. 
Compared the shoes with hoof, and they appeared to him as 
might have been on animal. Appeared to witness, horse 
had suffered from shoeing — toe part of crust improperly 
shortened — and sides of crust improperly removed, and had 
the appearance as if splintered in shoeing ; marks of rasping 
and paring to unusual extent ; sole had been pared to great 
degree. Judging from those, satisfied they were causes of 
the lameness. No corns in horse; soles not pumiced. 
Pumiced sole has particles of sole broken up and porous ; 
whole sole generally convex — without this, no disease. It 
consists in a diseased state of structure, and gets its name 
from this. Flat sole often mistaken for it. No structural 
change in the sole which inclined to flatness, but not un- 
usually so. It is permanent change in the sole when it takes 
place. As to thorough-pin, none — no spavin — and founder, 
none. Had the gelding been foundered within four or six 
months of any severity, witness must have seen consequences 
of it. Founder produces change of structure, and no ap- 
pearance of that in this gelding. Rings often remain after 
founder disappears. In young, healthy hoofs there are rings, 
but this kind of rings may be distinguished from those 
caused by disease. A skilled practitioner must be able to 
distinguish them, if his examination complete. Except so 
far as he has stated, the hoof in its structure was sound. 
Lameness then existing amply accounted for as above, but of 
such a nature as to permit of tolerably speedy removal. 
Shoeing, &c., alone caused the lameness. Six weeks before 
his examination, gelding could not possibly have been un- 
sound from any of the assigned causes. Injury is frequently 
caused by process of frosting, and lameness thereby induced. 
Saw horse again on 4th February, 1853, when it was shod 
in Dick’s forge — date in D.’s books— quite free of lameness 
after being shod. Witness had horse trotted along, to see 
state of animal. Had done this on purpose, to test his 
former opinion. Saw animal before shoes on — examined 
xxvm. 31 
