THE SHOEING OF HORSES. 35 



knowledge of the precise part inflicting the blow may enable the 

 farrier to remedy the defect at once. To prevent confusion, it is 

 best to describe the shoes figured i and 2, Plate XL, separately. 



Figure i is the common form of shoe in use to prevent 

 cutting of the hind limbs. The foot surface of the shoe is flat ; it 

 is caulked on the outside quarter ; and it possesses a clip at the 

 toe. It is usually secured to the foot by six or eight nails, which 

 are attached to the outisde half of the foot, with one or two at 

 the toe. (See Plate XL, Fig. i.) The whole of the inside quarter 

 is free from nails, as represented. The inside half of the shoe 

 is narrow, and its upper border is made to fit with the greatest 

 accuracy to the inside of the wall. From its line of junction with 

 the wall to its ground surface (the part destitute of nails) the 

 shoe is bevelled more or less, according to circumstances. 



Fore Foot Shoe. — The fore foot shoe is similar to the one 

 described, with this difference only : it is seated at the foot 

 surface ; the upper and inner edge of the shoe is made to fit the 

 edge of the wall with the greatest possible accuracy. From the 

 inner and superior border of the shoe to the ground surface is 

 more or less bevelled, according to the necessities of the case. 

 Sometimes the inside half of this shoe is made thicker than the 

 outer half, so thick, in fact, as to very slightly tilt the foot to one 

 side ; in other cases it is made thinner, so as to very slightly 

 tilt the foot inwards. Either of these plans may succeed in the 

 object desired ; experiment alone, however, can determine which 

 of the two. 



Figure 2 is a peculiar shoe ; and is generally used for a fore 



