Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-12-02
agricultural.
How to Preserve the Horses ioOf.
EY JOHN f. RUSSELL,


Every horse owner who employs a groom
or who keeps his animal at u boarding
stable. * aware that among the regular
supplies wanted tor the coml"rt or Wen
being cf his horse, are various MOOT ONT,
mcnts. softrnln" oils, ami dressing applied
to the hoof Will" the conctve sole IS con,
tinually ST fled with paste OF lhSeed
meal or with the dung OF COWS
Harness makers sell IN Infinite variety
of these dressings; some of them are pa
tented. and are emblazonrd upon the
dead walls with diuretic- and bltters The
concoctors of these mixtures are usually
trcttng sharpcr>. trac"-t'llen or crafty
>tabIrmen who have ovcr-reachrd them
selves cut of public confidence. OF average
veterinarians, and the stuff they recon-
mend has time out of mind. been com
pounded of tar hce>cWaN, lard or talioW'
whale oil. etc
In nearly all stables there Is constant
difficulty with the horses feet he pro
cess of shooting being at the best IN un-
natural one, and usually being done IN thu
worst possible way, the condition OF the
hoof Is Il continual menace. Heavy shoes
often with heel calks take the frog out o
action this organ, without winch there
can be- no hraltnful action of the hUOf, be
inm deprived of It's function HIS then nC
reason for its being, and 1t dies by wlthcr-
ing up into Il hard. shelly substance to
tally different from thu frog in Il state o
health. When the horse III this condition
contraction of the hoof is noticed in :;
.rrct.,.r 7 les degree; usually there arc
corus under the thick heel of the Shoe
cause BY conclusion. possibly quarter Ol
sand cracks. amt Il generally dry, fever
i5h state OF the hoof The horn becomes
brittle and shelly. growth is slow.
1t i the. opinion of the farricr that til,
horse ALWAYS had naturally &" poor, weal
feet. and the groom, who is generally {:
shlrcr in the profit of the fore, fully
arrree with him. 1t is ut this stage OF til,
,r,,uc that the ..ire~>inrs- and stuff
ms" are inevitable. and are usually con
timed until tin. horse. reaches the cond
,r,n thai unfit, him for r,.nterl services. i:
tr,L..,l If ON The, downward road tha
a. ~. I,rbl,,- .r,.,i.f,.,u. to the dca,
81 Tho ,fttl Contractor LET Il, now
,,usi,i,.. I'M. n.,tur,. nt the Loof and ;,1c~.
from hat. if it j. - L. j., lcii,c, nl olling
l. = u,,, me-. ,.s,,,ry for orr purpose. to d,.
-,.rih. the horn ni tI,. hnof and sole. As i
.,nu,.,rs under the microscope. nor to de
scribe the delicate machinery which i
,,.ntects. nor the process of its secretion
and Growth; it is Sufficient to say that i
;s unrous. and that insensjble pcr,piratIo,
l[on. ON continually. a, thouoh the pores O
the skin.
oil or grease of any kind applied to ;
rnrnu. surface enters into and stops tn,
n,rr, moisture and air are kept out. an,
ib.. natural conditions are thus DESTROYED
TIM. unreasoninc person argues that us OF
4unIicd TO the leather of a harness or boo
makes it soft and pliable, it has the same
cff..rt upon the hoof; he does not reh.c
that one substance is dead and tn. othe
iivinr. that nature. has established n Law
of decay for the dead and reverse laws 70
III. living substance, and provided wit
uncrrin" intelligence for soundnesS an,
growth The horses foot in Il state O