and are consequently unfit for general use, it re* 

 mains to examine, what effects would result from 

 a shoe of the same thickness at the heel, as at the 

 toe. Here it must be obvious, that zuM such a 

 shoe, the tread of the foot must be in the same 

 plane, as if it were without a shoe. And as it is 

 of the utmost importance to retain this even tread, 

 it is clear that this can be effected with ease and 

 simpHcity, by the application of the parallel shoe, 

 without die least necessity for having recourse to 

 the difficult and complicated plan of cuttino- away 

 the foot, in some parts excessively, and of leaving 

 it untouched in others, in order to adjust it to the 

 thin-heeled shoe. And if it be most advantao^eous 

 for the foot, that the frog should come in contact 

 with the ground frequently, that sort of shoe will 

 surely be in this respect the best, which will 

 allow the whole surface of the frog to have a/w// 

 and equal ht2Lving on the ground, instead of the 

 hack-part resting much more considerably upon 

 it than the fore-part, as must necessarily happen 

 with the thin-heeled shoe. 



Formerly it was imagined, that the frog was 

 liable to be bruised and hurt, if it came much 

 on the ground, and shoes were made thick at 

 the heels, to prevent this happening; but la;- 

 terly a contrary doctrine has been held, and it 



