C 25 1 



and ever since that time, this method has occasion- 

 ally been employed for the same purpose. But 

 about the middle of the isth century, the short 

 shoe, tip or half-moon shoe, as it has been 

 called by different writers, was strongly re- 

 commended for general use, under an idea that 

 it would hinder feet from contracting, prevent 

 corns, and other diseases, from takino- place, 

 and likewise give such a firmness of tread as to 

 render caulkings, in every circumstance, totally 

 unnecessary. And, as contracted feet in many 

 instances had become wider from the use of this 

 shoe, employed as a means of cure, it did not 

 seem unreasonable to conclude, that its constant 

 use might put an end to contraction altogether. 

 But, however this practice might be at first 

 approved by men eminent in their profession 

 in different countries, the experience of a few 

 years shewed, that though in fact it did pre- 

 vent feet from contracting, yet it also brought 

 along with it many inconveniences which did 

 not exist when the common slice was employed. 

 For, if a horse so shod was much used when 

 the roads were wet, it happened frecjuendy that 

 the horn at the heels was rubbed away faster 

 than it grew, and thus the^ensible parts within 

 the hoof becoming inflamed and sore, the animal 



