A series of original experiments on the foot of the living horse, exhibiting the changes produced by shoeing, and the causes of the apparent mystery of this art / By Bracy Clark.

  • Clark, Bracy, 1771-1860.
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A series of original experiments on the foot of the living horse, exhibiting the changes produced by shoeing, and the causes of the apparent mystery of this art / By Bracy Clark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pression in this direction, by meeting with the support of the frog then brought to the ground at the time the stiain and weight is greatest: the sides of the foot then expanding laterally through their whole extent, and springing back again to their places on the removal of the exertion and weight. And they must, in any violent exertion, as in galloping, &c., where the force is tenfold that of the mere weight, make these parts, if at liberty, play, or expand to an extent, that merely con- sidering the hoof in the hand can give us but a faint conception of. In standing on hard ground this part will scarcely be called into action at all, much less would it appear to receive well a continual pressure, as has been proposed for it, to force asunder and keep the heels ex- tended ; which ought to be extended principally by their own dispo- sition under pressure to pass outward. And next, with respect to the natural distance at which this part is placed above the ground, and the other bearing points of the foot:— in the annexed engraving of the foot, the distance, or recedence of this part within the foot cannot be known, as the perspective (the view being direct) will be insufficient to obtain an idea of it; but with the original cast, or model before me, the opportunity is af- forded of measuring these circumstances, which I will endeavour to do with all the accuracy I am able; and as this foot has attained the fifth year of its growth without the least restraint from artificial measures, so it will be a fairer example to reason from, than at pre- sent can any where be found ; for the operation of the iron upon the natural foot is vastly more rapid, than any one not having investigated this matter would believe : but of which we shall presently afford de- monstrative proof. And it is from such shod feet that, hitherto, ideas and reasonings on these matters have been formed ; it being naturally ap- prehended that as soon as the shoe was off the foot, the foot was again in a state of nature, that is, if it had a sound, and tolerable appearance to the eye ; for the eye also soon gets used to deformity, and