SECRETARY'S REPORT. 153 



depth from end to end, so tbat all parts bear equally on the ground, 

 and have the bearing edge on the same level as a line drawn between 

 the points of the heel caulks. 



The fullering or grooving of the shoe is a useful device for secur- 

 ing the even punching of the nail holes, and protecting the heads of 

 the nails from wear. Beyond this I am not aware of any benefits 

 from it, and it certainly has the disadvantage of weakening the shoe 

 and facilitating its being worn down. In France, many parts of 

 Britain, and in all the English Cavalry Regiments, (figure 16,) the 

 nail holes are simply punched and counter-sunk, without any groove 

 or fuller, and have a nail suited to the size and form of the hole. 

 The shoe made thus has a greater solidity and durability, and I have 

 little doubt will ultimately be the form preferred. But whether 

 fullered or not, there are one or two things about the punching of 

 the nail holes not to be overlooked. They should all be so punched 

 that the nails may enter the wall of the hoof on its inner edge. No 

 nail hole should ever be seen on the seating of the shoe, nor nail in 

 any part of the edge of the sole. To do this properly, requires 

 some nicety, as both the thickness and slope of the crust alter as we 

 proceed from the toe to the heels, and it is one of the things much 

 neglected in the making of shoes, there being but few in which 

 you will see a well graduated range of nail holes. A point worse 

 managed, however, is the placing of the nail holes properly as re- 

 gards their distance from the heels. No nail should ever be driven 

 into the feet fui-ther back than its broadest part. This is a rule of 

 nature's indication, and she will not suffer its violation with im- 

 punity. Behind the broadest part of the hoof the spring and 

 expansion is such that it cannot be fettered or confined without 

 harm ; yet it is quite common to see shoes with one or two nails into 

 this forbidden ground, and sometimes they are nailed to the very 

 heels. 



As an instance : a gentleman drove a horse from Fredericton to 

 St. John, which had been shod the day before leaving. He was two 

 days on the way, and before reaching here was lame on all four feet. 

 On taking off the shoes no special cause of lameness was found in 

 any of the feet except the fettering effects of the nails ; but these 

 were driven to within half an inch of the heel caulks, so as to des- 

 troy entirely the natural action of the foot. (See figure 9.) 



