DETAILS OF SHOEING. 487 



apt to cause the horse to cut or brush or interfere, as it is variously 

 called. These three terms all mean the same. 



4th. The plan now proposed is a modification of the cabman's nail. It 

 has been introduced into the Army after careful trial for some years in 

 the Royal Horse Guards under Vet. Lt.-Col. Mathews. The shoes are 

 made only of the usual width, and the hole for the frost-nail is made 

 obliquely from the centre of the under or ground surface of the shoe, 

 and brought out on the outer edge of the upper surface of the shoe, so as 

 just to clear the crust at the heels. (Plate 56, fig. 20.) 



In the cabman's plan the full length of the shank of the nail is battened 

 down outside. This projection of the nail increases the liability to 

 brushing, and the long shank is apt to get loose, and this again increases 

 the liability to brush. 



In the improved plan the shank, after being battened down, is nicked 

 by the edge of the fine side of the rasp just one eighth of an inch below 

 the upper surface of the side of the shoe, and it must be well and firmly 

 battened down. When so shortened it is not liable to spread out and 

 thereby cause brushing. It also gets a better and firmer hold than the 

 lengthened shank in use by the cabman. This may seem somewhat con- 

 trary to what might be expected, but it is a practical fact. The leverage 

 is less. 



The services of a farrier are not required to put in frost-nails or draw 

 them. Any fairly intelligent stable servant, if he is provided with a 

 hammer and a file, can put them in, and he can draw them out if he is 

 provided with pincers. He should also have a hollow cap to put on the 

 head of the nail which is driving. 



Frost-nails ought to be of the best hard temper as regards the head, 

 but the shank should not be tempered. Frost-nails and frost-screws can 

 in the present day be obtained in almost any town, but to prevent incon- 

 venience and delay on the occurrence of a frost, some two or three dozen 

 should be kept in stock in every stable. The " life " of a frost nail or 

 screw of course depends much on the material of the road, but twenty 

 miles may be taken as an average. 



All roughing, whether the old plan or screws or nails, is liable to 

 cause treads, both on the road and in the stable. In this respect there is 

 not much difference between screws and nails. But both have the advan- 

 tage over the old system, because they can be drawn when the journey is 

 finished. And as after a journey they will probably be pretty well worn, 

 and therefore not fit for another journey, it is as well to draw them on 

 return to the stable. 



The fourth or improved plan of temporary roughing is applicable only 

 to riding and the lighter classes of horses used for draught. 



For heavy draught horses it will be better to adopt the permanent 

 methods in ordinary use. 



The tools necessary for screws are a spanner, of required size, a driving 

 hammer with a buffer to clear the holes in the shoes. 



For frost nailsa pair of pincers, a driving hammer, a buffer, a hoof 



