4S ON SHOEING. 



In order to save trouble, it is a common 

 practice with blacksmiths to apply the shoe hot, 

 and burn down the hoof until it corresponds 

 with the surface of the shoe. This method 

 should never be tolerated on any pretence what- 

 ever, for it dries up the natural fluid of the 

 hoof, destroys the pores, and renders the crust, 

 to a considerable extent, perfectly insensible, 

 and also causes it to be so britde, as to be inca- 

 pable of holding the nails in their respective 

 situations. It has been before observed, that 

 the shoe should be half flat and half bcvilled. 

 By being half flat, it will embrace a small por- 

 tion of the sole as well as the wall, and although 

 it is generally asserted, that the sole will not 

 endure pressure from the shoe without injury, 

 yet daily experience will sufficiently prove the 

 contrary. 



If the whole weight of the animal be sus- 

 tained by the wall of the foot only, the pressure 



will 



