C46 3 



the shoe sufficiently fast; and a greater number, 

 by acting like so many wedges, weaken the 

 hoof, and rather dispose the crust to break off, 

 than give additional security. 



The manner of disposing the nails, has dif- 

 fered considerably at different times. Some 

 writers have directed four to be placed on each 

 side of the foot, and the hindmost near the heel, 

 leaving between the two rows of nails, a consi* 

 derable space of the forepart of the foot without 

 any. 



The nails thus placed, certainly confined the 

 foot at the sides and heels, left the toe at liberty, 

 and assisted materially the effect of the sloping 

 surface of the common shoe, in altering the 

 form of the foot from a nearly round, to a length- 

 ened figure. 



Latterly, it has been strongly recommended, 

 to place the nails principally at the fore part of 

 the foot, in order to prevent the heels from being 

 confined. And certainly this is a wiser prac- 

 tice than the former; but as the foot should rest 

 on the shoe in the whole extent of the ciust, it 

 may be thought, that the best way of connecting 

 them in every part alike, would be that of placing 

 the nails at equal distances from each other, in 

 the whole round of the slioe. 



