160 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
Another source of contraction proceeds from the manner 
in which the animal is treated. Many are over-fed and not 
sufficiently exercised. Some are permitted to stand in the 
stable for days together without being taken out. Such 
norses must consequently be more liable to inflammatory 
attacks. The laminae or little plates of the coffin-bone are 
extremely sensible ; they are scarcely lengthened, when, from 
want of exercise, they begin to diminish. It is natural, 
therefore, to suppose that if the horse is suddenly and 
violently exercised, either upon the road or in the field, these 
exquisitely sensible plates should, from concussion, become 
rapidly elongated and the whole foot heated, and that in¬ 
flammation should follow. The various parts of the foot 
then undergo an alteration of structure; and hence a 
partial separation between the internal and external parts 
of the foot, limited expansion of the quarters, and a con¬ 
traction and falling in of the crust takes place, 
Symptoms. —Horses which are lame from rapid or severe 
contraction always stand in the stable with one foot before 
the other, the lame foot being placed forward ; but if both 
feet are affected, then he will change them alternately. 
When a horse with this complaint is taken out of the stable, 
it will be detected by the peculiar shortness and quickness 
of his step, and he will place his feet very gently upon the 
ground, and if trotted will hardly clear the surface as he 
moves along ; so that he is apt to come down by any uneven 
place on the road, and will be constantly stumbling even 
with the smallest irregularity of surface. 
Contraction is manifested by the fore feet being consider¬ 
ably narrowed across the quarters, and also towards the 
heels. In some few instances the entire foot will exhibit 
a contracted appearance, as if it were shrunk; but in most 
cases while the heel is narrowed the front will be elongated 
