DETAILS OF SHOEING. 477 



973. Position of Nails. 



The position of nails in the fore-shoe is a mutter of great importance. 

 There is greater wear on the toe of the shoe in ordinary use than on any 

 other part. If the anterior nails are placed so Tar forward as to be sub- 

 ject to this extra wear, their heads will soon be worn off and the nails 

 will then lose their hold. The anterior nail on each side should there- 

 fore be placed just posterior to this extra wear (Figs. 7 and 9). The 

 two remaining nails on the outside should evenly divide the distance to 

 the heels. On the inside, on which there should be only two nails, the 

 second nail should be placed exactly opposite the second nail on the 

 outside. It is a practical fact, that nails placed exactly opposite to 

 each other have a greater holding power than if placed irregularly. 



Five nails, as stated above, are sufficient. Therefore there must be 

 throe on one side and two on the other. The inside is chosen for the 

 omission of the third nail, because the crust on that side is thinner and 

 more clastic, and therefore affords less hold ; and because contraction, 

 when it occurs, is generally found on the inside. I do not think that 

 nailing is a real cause of contraction. But as there is an opportunity of 

 omitting a nail, I prefer to leave it out on the inside. 



974. Punching of Nail-holes, and driving of Nails. 



The Nail-holes should be punched rather nearer the outside than the 

 inside of the web of the shoe, and should be brought out on the upper 

 side with a very slight inclination outwards, so as to diminish the risk of 

 pricking. 



The practice of punching nail-holes almost on the outer edge of the 

 web is, in my opinion, objectionable, as the nails do not get a sufficient 

 hold in the crust. When however the crust has been reduced in thick- 

 ness by constant rasping, the nails must of course be driven very " fine ; " 

 but where the crust is sound and unrasped, the punching may be placed 

 as directed above, and certainly with great advantage to the holding 

 power of the nails. (Figs. 7 and 9.) 



The nails should be brought out in the hoof about an inch above the 

 shoe. If brought out higher, there will be risk of injury to the sensitive 

 part of the horn. If lower, they will not get sufficient hold. But in 

 feet which have been maltreated, it will be safer to bring the nails out 

 somewhat lower. The heel nails may be brought out somewhat lower 

 than the toe and quarter nails. 



975. Nail heads. Countersunk Nail-hotes. 



A great advantage is gained in the form of nails by making use of 

 countersunk holes (Fig. 9, Plate 51). With them the heads of the nails 

 can never wear out, if they fit the holes, until the shoe itself is worn 

 through. With these nails (Fig. 10) the heads should exactly occupy 

 and completely fill the holes. No portion of the thin part of the nail 

 should be in the shoe, nor any portion of the thick part in the crust. 



