THE CONCAVE- SEATED SHOE 367 



which the nail-holes are punched ; when the shoe is 

 on, the nails project but a little way beyond the 

 general surface of the shoe, but are soon worn level 

 with the face of the shoe. 



The web of this shoe is of equal thickness through- 

 out, and parallel from toe to heel, deviating in width 

 according to the form of the foot to which it is to be 

 applied. The foot-surface of the shoe is sufficiently 

 wide to protect the sole from bruises, and as wide at 

 the heel as the frog will permit, in order effectually 

 to cover the situation where a corn grows. 



It is seated on the foot side, and the outer portion 

 made as accurately flat as possible, and of the exact 

 width of the crust, which it is designed alone to 

 support, so that the entire weight of that union which 

 exists between the numerous little plates which are 

 arranged upon the internal surface of the wall of the 

 foot (which are more particularly described at page 

 226), and this portion, supports the whole weight of 

 the horse. This flattened portion of the shoe is 

 wider towards the heel, and occupies the entire breadth 

 of the web, to support the heel of the crust and its 

 reflected portion, the bar ; so that while it protects the 

 horn included within the angle from injury, it pro- 

 motes that equal pressure upon the bar and crust, 

 which is most likely to prevent contraction as well as 

 the growth of the corn. 



We have given a representation of this shoe, Plate 

 xi, fig. i. It is secured to the foot by nine nails, five 

 on the outside, and four on the inner side of the shoe. 

 These are not placed parallel to each other, but the 

 outside ones extend a little further towards the heel 

 than on the other side, because the outside heel has 

 more nail-hold, and is thicker and stronger than the 

 inside. When the feet are of moderate size, and not 



