28 
DR. G. C. PRITCHARD. 
inated by the same convictions, of the necessity that existed 
for a system of shoeing, whereby the enormous destruction 
of horse property, and values, then going on, might be arrested. 
Professor Coleman, virtually the first president and profes¬ 
sor of the English college, himself declared that a proper 
method of shoeing horses was of more importance than the 
treatment of any and perhaps all diseases incidental to the 
horse. 
All through the century this statement or declaration has 
been repeated and emphasized by every writer of note on the 
foot diseases of the horse. But, notwithstanding all their efforts, 
hopes and expectations, they were doomed to disappointment, 
and the waste and destruction of horses, according to Professor 
Gamgee, was as rife seventy-five years later as the day the 
first college was established. The opinion has been often 
expressed, and I think it is very likely true, that the destruction 
of horses, and consequently their values, is many times greater 
from diseases of the feet than from all other diseases combined. 
By some the present century is said to have been the 
greatest century of progress in the various arts of which we 
have any historical record ; in view of which we might well 
ask, what has been the progress, if any, in the science or art of 
shoeing horses during that period ? 
I imagine I hear some of yon saying “ what has all this to do 
with the mechanical treatment of lameness ? ” I will try to ex¬ 
plain : it is quite a difficult matter to explain the full meaning of 
the term “perfectly-balanced foot; ” especially is this so when talk¬ 
ing to non-professional men ; but as this paper is designed for 
professional men exclusively, it should not be so difficult to make 
myself understood. Now, the definition I would give of a per¬ 
fectly-balanced foot would be a perfect articulation between the 
os corona and os pedis ; when we have a perfect articulation in 
this joint we have nothing to fear either from the foot or the 
balance of the limb. You will readily understand from this 
that I ascribe most of the ills of horseflesh in the limbs, in the 
primary stage, to a faulty articulation at this joint ; and why ?' 
