The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-12
Undesirable Feet.

The study of the anatomy of the horses
foot suggests the great Importance of
mans attention to the feet Of allriomestic
animals; evinces the necessity of great
skill and caution on the part Of all per-
sons who shoe horses; throws valuable
light on the origin, nature and proper
treatment of the various diseases to
which horses feet are subject, particu-
larly contraction of the hoof, founder,
canker, corns, and cracks, thrush and
quittor; and affords ready explanation
of few points, which we will proceed.
ito state, respecting malformations or
undesirable peculiarities in the structure
of the feet of some particular horses.
A thin foot is one which has a thin
wall; and though perfectly well-shaped,
and in all respects pleasing to the eye,
it is peculiarly liable to damage from
either the attaching of the shoe, travel
ing on hard ground, excessive draught
in summer, or excessive moisture in
winter. The bottom of the wall of a
thin foot is generally ragged; and when
the shoe is removed, the whole verge is
seen to be thin. A strong foot has the
tibres of the hoof very distinct, and
somewhat similar in appearance to
those of any easily-split timber; and if
not kept carefully moist and pliable, it
becomes almost as hot as iron, and rem
ders the foot lame and tender without
revealing the cause of the lameness; and
when hurt to the quick, and locally in
famed, has tendency to cause very
troublesome eruption around the coro-
net, and is always subject to rents and
tissues of the hoof, somtimes so severe
as to terminate in the total disruption
of the coffin bone from the sensible
foot A narrow-heeled foot, in
some instances, is tolerably good;
but in others, inclines to heat and
rottenness, and, when tempered with in
the usual manner of the ordinary "hoss
DOCTOR is almost certain to become
hoof- bound. A fore foot of perceptibly
smaller size than its fellow, may, in the
course of time, become feeble and in
| capable. A fiat foot, shaped like an
oyster, has many rings and wrinkles,
and probably requires hollow-shaped
shoe, and generally renders the animal
unfit for the saddle, and not the fittest
Ou6 1OI tnC pow n lON-hCClCu 1OOk
renders the animal bad traveller; and
a high-heeled foot is subject to I'M
steadiness of action, to tripping and
stumbling, and to sprains in the coffin
and pastern joints. A foot of dispro-
portionately large size is usually ac-
cOmpanied with slenderness and COM
parative weakness of limb, and indi-
Gates inability for any brisk or vigorous
| action. Awhile foot is popularity re
garded as inferior to foot of any other
color. Indeed, when horse has too
many of his feet white they do net al
ways prove the best; yet we have seen
white-footed horses have their feet such
that the ablest judges could not find
| fault with
When foot is smooth and tough, OF
a middle size, without wrinkles, neither
too hard and brittle, nor too soft, and
when the heel is firm. open and in nc
ways spongy or rotten, and the frog
horny or dry, and the sole somewhat
hollow, like the inside of dish or bowl,
whatever be the color, such a foot will
for the most part turn out good, though
the dark or black hoof, when it re-
semb1es that of deer, is generally the
best; and for this reason, those who are
the most particular about horses feet,
do not choose such as have much white
upon their legs and pasterns, to avoid
their having too many white feet
| Prairie Farmer.