THE 'SEELEY' SHOE. 105 



used to give the hoof a smart and clean appearance. 

 Instead of that, as soon as the horse is brought out, 

 if broken straws from the stall are not adhering to 

 it (generally the case), in less than ten minutes it is 

 covered with dust, which adheres to it, and stops all 

 chance of circulation of air, which is so necessary to 

 the well-being of the foot. The hoof is naturally 

 porous ; and if coated with grease the circulation of 

 air is stopped, and the foot naturally injured, and 

 there is a great probability of engendering disease.' 

 These quotations are taken from the paper men- 

 tioned, in its issues of January 17 and 31, 1880. 



Some months since a contemporary stated : ' We 

 hear that a new horseshoe has been adopted by the 

 North Metropolitan Tramways Company since they 

 commenced to keep their own horses. The stud of 

 the company numbers over 2,000 animals ; and, with 

 the view of easing the laborious travelling of the 

 horses over stony roads, the new patent horseshoe 

 of Mr. A. Seeley, of the United States, has been 

 tried. This shoe weighs l^lb., or less than half the 

 usual weight' (The Charlier three-quarter shoe 

 weighs five ounces). 6 It is fastened on when cold, 

 and, being without " clips " or calks, the frog, or 

 centre of the horse's foot, is allowed to rest firmly 

 on the ground. The cost of shoeing under the new 

 system is about ninepence, instead of one shilling, a 

 week per horse.' 



The Seeley Company now refer in their pro- 

 spectus to tramway and other companies in the chief 

 towns in England as to their success in working 



