50 ON SHOEING. ! 



The nails should be as small as possible, ; 



and in a wedge-like form at the head, by i 



which means they will retain their hold with ! 



greater effect. I 



i 



The foregoing rules are pointed out for the , 

 purpose of shoeing a perfect foot, which has | 

 not been injured either by accident or disease ; ! 

 and if they are strictly adhered to, will gene- : 

 rally ensure a continuance of that perfection. ' 

 But this method, however excellent in princi- 

 ple and confirmed by experience, may be 

 easily brought into disrepute by an injudicious 

 application. 



This misfortune frequently occurs from the 

 unqualified opposition of blacksmiths in gene- 

 ral, who, to use the words of Tacitus, will ever 

 be found " Consilii quamvis egregii, quod ipse 

 non afierret inimicus." 



Their 



