On the General Treatment of the Feet. 181 



Biitj the chief means of warding- off to old age a great portion, 

 of the inevitable evil effects of the shoe and the nails upon the Foot, 

 is, to permit the full growth and development of the organ, before 

 the practice of Shoeing be had recourse to, which development 

 is not perfected before the end of the fifth year. — Whereas in 

 England, and more especially in this country. Horses are shod 

 at the beginning of their third year, and sometimes much sooner, 

 by which means disease in many shapes is brought on, long before 

 the Foot has attained its perfection and symmetry ; and in conse- 

 quence of this absurd practice, thousands of Horses annually, finish 

 their career of pain and miser}', before they have arrived at one- 

 third of the natural period of life assigned them by Providence. 



Mr.. Clark, however, I perceive, holds out hopes that a better 

 and more politic system is beginning to prevail amongst some of the 

 opulent and enlightened in England, who do not shoe their valuable 

 Horses before they are four or five years old, but use them with Tips 

 only on their Feet, until that period. 



I have already disclaimed the idea of writing a regular treatise on 

 Shofeing — But, having recommended Mr. Coleman's work and the 

 principles of Shoeing, which he has laid down in preference to any 

 others, it would be improper for me to close this subject, without 

 informing my readers that the use of the thin-heeled Shoe, formerly 

 recommended by the ingenious Professor, has been laid aside for 

 some time at the London Veterinary College, from the experience 

 of its inutility. 



I am of opinion that the Shoe ought to be of equal thickness at 



Toe and Heel. 



Zz 



