proved most efficient in his hands.

As in all other troubles, the cause must be discovered, if possible, and
removed. In the great majority of cases the shoeing is at fault. While
sudden changes in the method of shoeing are not advisable, it may be
said that all errors, either in the preparation of the foot, in the
construction of the shoe, or in its application may very properly be
corrected at any time. Circumstances may at times make it imperative
that shoes be worn which are not free from objections; as, for
instance, the shoe with a high calk; but in such cases it is considered
that the injuries liable to result from the use of calks are less
serious than those which are sure to happen for the want of them.

For a sound foot perfectly formed, a flat shoe, with heels less thick
than the toe, and which rests evenly on the wall proper, is the best. In
flat feet it is often necessary to concave the shoe as much as possible
on the upper surface, so that the sole may not be pressed upon. If the
heels are very low the heels of the shoe may be made thicker. If the
foot is very broad and the wall light toward the heels, a bar shoe
resting upon the frog will aid to prevent excessive tension upon the
soft tissues when the foot receives the weight of the body. A piece of
leather placed between the foot and shoe serves largely to destroy
concussion, and its use is absolutely necessary on some animals to
enable them to work.

Last among the preventive measures may be mentioned those which serve to
maintain the suppleness of the hoof. The dead horn upon the surface of
the sole not only retains moisture for a long time, but protects the
living horn beneath from the effects of evaporation; for this reason the
sole should be pared as little as possible. Stuffing the feet with
flaxseed meal, wet clay, or other like substances, or damp dirt floors
or damp bedding of tanbark, greasy hoof ointments, etc., are all means
which may be used to keep the feet from becoming too dry and hard.

As to the curative measures which are to be adopted much will depend
upon the extent of the injury. If the case is one of chronic dry corn,
with but slight lameness, the foot should be poulticed for a day or two
and the discolored horn pared out, care being taken not to injure the
soft tissues. The heel on the affected side is to be lowered until all
pressure is removed and, if the patient's labor is required, the foot
must be shod with a bar shoe or