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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    inwards towards the frog, and in the collapsed or contracted state of the foot this part is resting against the side of the base of the frog, compressing and almost cutting it; this angle of sharp horn is re- moved by a slice of the buttress, and by a second cut a piece is also removed from the base of the frog, leaving a deep wide notch in these parts, and it is usual to see a deep incision made into the thick bul- bous horny envelopment which the frog sends over the hoof at this part, forming the arch of the commissure : after this, the horn forming the sides and bottom of the reverted arch of the frog is also unmer- cifully sliced away, and as we have shown in treating of this part (on grounds not before considered) without just reason ; for we ap- prehend in these cases of shod feet that the hard horn can be better spared from the inside of the bar as it is the encroaching part, and from its strength, being united to the sole, can better admit of it, or a small portion perhaps from them both may be better, so as not to weaken either in too great a degree.—The sole is then very much thinned with the drawing knife -the effect of all this cutting is, that the foot is not actually wider than it was before, or likely by these measures to become so, but a temporary release is obtained from the pressure of the encroaching horn, and a degree of elasticity which is natural to the part is once more communicated to the foot.—If the shoe is now applied and adroitly fitted and nailed, a great relief will be experienced, and abundant applause may attend it. It is however but a temporary resource, and will in its consequences with most feet at least be ultimately ruinous, for it is obvious that this proceeding does not at all extend to the cause of the evil, without which no permanent advantage can be expected ; the horn robbed of its harder exterior coat, and the interior more succulent one ex- posed, quickly dries, and in drying contracts and pinches or com- presses the parts beneath, or perhaps it cracks, as is too frequently the case in particular between the inflexure of the hoof and the frog, separating