234 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
this necessary preparative has led to considerable difference of 
opinion about the natural, healthy, or true form of the ground sur- 
face of the foot.” Further, that “ Bracy Clark’s (frontispiece) 
natural foot is one with great spread to it, much of which the 
smith would find it necessary to deprive it of, even on the first 
shoeing ; and the protuberance of the outer quarter (which Bracy 
Clark points out as an attribute of health) being wholly owing to 
the spread , will, of course, disappear with the annihilation of the 
spread.” 
We learn from Percivall, in his “ Anatomy of the Horse,” at 
p. 420, that “ by the spread is meant the inclination the hoof mani- 
fests, when left unshod, around the toe and sides, to bulge or pro- 
trude at bottom, whereby its ground-surface becomes augmented, 
particularly around the outer quarter. To a certain extent this is 
worthy of observation ; although, in my opinion, it is to be regarded 
rather as an effect of pressure than one of abstract growth .” 
It will not escape our reader’s notice here, that the spread or pro- 
tuberance of the ground-surface of the hoof is referred to the 
“ outer quarter,” and to that alone, and that no mention whatever 
is made of any spread or protuberance of the inner quarter ; much 
less of what gives rise to the spread, save in such general terms as 
afford no clue whatever to the scientific and satisfactory explana- 
tion now for the first time given of the phenomenon by Mr. Hodg- 
son. What this gentleman’s opinions are in regard to it will best 
be apprehended by the perusal of his paper on the subject; the 
novel or leading features of which — those commanding our chief 
inquiry — appear to us to be reducible to the following proposi- 
tions : — 
1. That the form of the foot is regulated by that of the body of 
the horse. (Including in this, the position and action of the fore 
limb.) 
2. That however modified the form of the foot, yet has it certain 
definable proportions, wherefrom rules may be laid down defining 
the extent and thickness of its horny covering at any determinate 
point. 
3. That it is the cone-figure or shelving of the foot that produces 
the modifications in its shape ; and this appears to operate through 
the sole, influenced by the weight abutting against that particular 
