The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1895-04-23
WHAT AsHoHsE,s FOOT IS.

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WHAT AsHoRsE,s FOOT IS.
Its Marvellous Anatomy and How 1t Should
BE Treated.
In lecture on the horse's foot, Pro
lessor Duncan MacEaohran of McGil
university, Canada proceeded 10 de
scribe briefly and to illustrate by sec
tions and diagrams the wonderful struo
ture Of the foot, first the bone forming
the distal ends Of the four extremities,
articulated in such manner and degree
of obliquity as to minimize concussion,
next the wonderful arrangements of the
soft tissues covering the bones over
rxa and intersected by networks o.
blood vessels and nerve fibers, firmly at
tached to the BONE yet SO disposed as tC
not only secrete the horn, but to keep
secreting it while the animal lived, tc
carry on these functions even while ex-
posed to compression and conclusion
from the enormous loads which it had
to bear from the weight of the animal,
his burden and the momentum of his
movements, yet SO perfect was the ar.
rangement that seldom indeed did we
md that even blood vessel was rup-
tured or tissue bruised, SO long as II
was left in q natural condition. He next
showed the beautiful dovetailed con-
nectlon OF the hoof to the sensitive on
soft tissfee a model and diagram hainp
used to illustrate The structure OF the
wall sole and frog were explained he
then spoke Oh the loot as whole and
declared u perfect IN structure, perfect
In 1unctlon, AND, as proved by the horse
IN state OF nature, perfect proeectlon
for the sensitive loot within
why mutllate SO perfect struc-
turef The protectlon OF this horny foot
cover, as the moor may be called, from
wear ana tear, caused by constant use on
tne marc roads OF CIVILIZATION, by an iron
rim or shoe 10 necessary Tor the full ut1i-
lzation OF the animals powers and USE
fulness II has been truly called a nec-
essary evil, as our own foot covers are,
yet surely the foot can be protected with
out our having to chronicle 70 per cent
OF the lamenesses, OF the fore feet at
least, being due to faulty shooting. With
the farrier l would plead for the poor
horse. to see to it that he himself and
his workmen are taught something at
least OF the anatomy and physiology Of
the hcrse's foot, to think Of it as very
sensitive, highly organized structure and
not thoughtlessly to cut away as useless
that horny sole. so necessary to protect
the tender sole which it covers Do not
scorch 1t by applying. while fitting,
too hot shoe. In fitting the shoe re-
member that 1t is to remain on night
and day. 1t is not to be removed at bed
time, as your own. If it twists and dis
torts the foot and parts Of the limb above
1t, there ia no relief from the torment
Of cramp and sprain; If it presses hard
on sensitive part, being firmly nailed
on, the horse must suffer night and day.
In mailing the shoe on be careful that
the nails do not press on or penetrate
the sensitive parts. The horse cannot
remove 1t, and the careless groom may
not notice 1t for days. Ii you would but
think Of the suffering which poor horses
undergo from your carelessness or ig-
norance, you would treat the foot less
IS an insensible block OF wood. 49,
TO the owner 1 would say: II you
can AFFORD to keep horse II you re-
qulre the services OF horse, deal with
him AS you would with any other Of
your assistants. He cannot take care of
himself; you must hire man to take
care Of him. Think Of him as noble
animal almost as sensitive as yourself,
having pleasurable feelings and suffer
ing pain in not much less degree than
yourself or any member of your family,
and let the thought influence you when
you hire his oaretaker Don It let few
dollars a month influence you in the
choice between good and a bad groom.
If you would think of the pain and an
guish, the sleepless nights and unhappy
days of many horses, owing to the neg
lect of their feet by ignorant or dissi-
pated grooms, you would give your sta
BILE more personal supervision, and you
would see that your groom not only
knew what was necessary to procure the
comfort of your horse in the manage
ment of his feet, but that he would at
knowledge, Owners sometimes cause
great sunerlng py penuriousness ana 9
Ialse economy ABOUT snoeing Oils ana
STABLE expenses.
- sne publ .o : ~ moa a soy Al. YOU Gan
w - ~ r $500 VIC 80 " Suo Iio1'o
roarchant2 Soa 80 - that vo,,, NO., tk;,L
of tha noo,. ho,.sos xvt,;eh Liz "a 20,