The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-04-16
THE HORSES HOOP.
It's Construction and the Injurious Effect
of TmDronnr Shoeinp

It's Construction and the Injurious Effects
of Improper Shooting.
The external covering of the foot
may be divided into four parts, viz,
the ''wall'' or 'crust," the 'bars,"
'sole" and ''horny frog" The exter-
nal portion, named ''crust, is adapted
as q defense to the sensitive parts
within. 1t is composed Of small fila
ments, or hollow tubes, consolidated
in such manner as to preserve their
canals distinct. These canals consti-
tute the eXcrementitiuus outlets of the
hoof, through which morbific or waste
matters make their exit and in them
may also be found the vessels by which
the horn is secrcted. The small vessels
arising from the vascular and nervous
membrane beneath the hoof,, which is
considered as q continuation of the true
skin, enter salsointotrese canals. The
small vessels alluded to, technically
called 7oapiltg. possess the properties of
sensibility and conductibility. They
are formed from cells, and have an al
loted function TO perform, for which,
in their healthy state, they arc all-suf-
ticicnt, and for which no other class
has OF can perform without derange-
ments to the parts.
The bar" are continuation of the
external portion just described. They
form an angle at the heels, which ter
inmates toward the toe. They serve to
give strength and durability to the hoof,
prevent contraction OF the heels, and
thus aid the hoof IN protecting the soft
and sensitive parts. The internal por-
ton of the bars presents the same APP
pearance as that of the crust. They are
held together by vital affinities, and so
long as they maintain their normal in
tegrity the foot will preserve its form.
Next in order is the ''solc.n 1t is
considered to be more elastic than the
crust, and is the medium of the sensi-
tive faculty, through which. together
with its elasticity, the percussion of the
foot against the ground is regulated.
The "horny frog is still more elastic
than either of the parts described, and
any unnecessary "paring" on the part
of the smith is to betdeprecated.
On the internal portion OF the parts
just described is found a beautiful set
OF tdnaaaaoe, resembling those found on
the under part of q mushroom; their
number is said to be about five hum
dred, which artlculate with similar
number given off from the coffin-bone.
Each lamin9, having two sides and an
edge, forms series of articulations,
numbering about three thousand. The
whole presents surface of four square
feet Hence, the body of horse rests
upon sixteen square feet of surface
within the hoof
The hoof, as observed, serves as a
defense to the sensitive parts within.
1t varies in size and thickness, accord.
ing to the age and condition of the an
imal. Its texture may be rendered
hard or soft by the judicious applica-
ton of therapeutic agents. Its con-
formation may be altered, for better or
worse, by proper attention to the laws
OF animal life, stable management and
skillful shoeing. A
Some people seem to suppose that a
horses foot is as insensible as stone.
The smith wrenching off the shoes, of.
ten brings away portion of the hooi
with them, and cuts off large pieces
with as little care as man would
trim a dog, then apply ared-hot shoe
to the part, without any regard to the
feelings of the animal Many persons
have had occasion to deplore the pres
ent barbarious system of shoeing. Dear
bought experience has taught them a
lesson which they are not likely to for
get. PHILADELPHIA Record.
Canadians are beginning tc worry
over their loss of forests. In the more
thickly settled part of Ontario only ten.
per cent of the woodland remains. end
wells must now be dug to the depth Of
forty or fifty feet, where formerl,
water could be reached at six.