10 
EXPANSION OF THE HORSE^S HOOF. 
said, and very properly, that isolated cases are not examples : 
here we were not confined, but had them ad libitum ; morning 
by morning, as I approached the stables, I was met by the 
groom, who exclaimed, “ here are two more,”—“ three more,” 
as might be the case, have " caught it.” 
There are those, then, who say it is contagious and not infec¬ 
tious, and vice versa : to give examples for both.—Two fresh 
horses were purchased from distant counties, and, anxious to 
keep them from having it, stables at a distance were provided 
for them, and all communication with the other horses cut off, 
until one morning, through a misunderstanding of one of the 
men, of the groom’s directions, these two horses joined issue 
with the others at exercise: the consequence was, as fully 
anticipated and predicted by me, that the following day they 
had the influenza. 
It is thus seen I subscribe to the doctrine of infection and 
contagion. I have long entertained this opinion, therefore the 
cases quoted are not directly instrumental in forming that 
opinion, but confirmatory of a previously existing one. 
I know there are many who entertain a different opinion, for 
which I am glad ; since where there is controversy the truth is 
endeavoured to be arrived at. 
Dec. 10th, 1851. 
EXPANSION OF THE HORSE’S HOOF. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian.” 
Sir,— May I, through the medium of your journal, ask 
Mr. Reeve a few questions, with the hope of obtaining some 
light on this subject] He has written, that his solution will 
“ give a very fair approximate to the actual degree of expan¬ 
sion.” If so, as the upper surface of the sole is an ellipsis, 
with a triangular space in it, what would be the results of simi¬ 
lar measurement at different parts of it ] Should not the 
solution of the problem stand thus, 2 ,5— ,4, leaving an excess 
of ,1 in the breadth of the base at the part he measured ] 
Yours faithfully, 
Amicus. 
P.S.—Mr. R. may know my name, if he wishes it; but this 
would not alter the facts or solutions of the queries. 
