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CHAP. XXXVIII. 



ON SHOEING. 



NATURE, in forming the foot of the horse, 

 covered it with a hard hoof, and from this it 

 should seem that it never was intended that 

 iron shoes should be affixed to them with nails 

 of the same metal ; but art in most cases in- 

 troduces improvements, and puts a finishing 

 hand to the operations of nature. Had not 

 highways and pavements been invented by art, 

 for the convenience and use of mankind, 

 horse-shoes would never have been necessary -, 

 but as one necessity begets another, so one im.- 

 provement introduces another. The hoof of 

 a horse is formed sufficiently hard for the turf, 

 and for agricultural purposes in a moderate 

 way, but not enough so for drawing large 

 loads, and supporting heavy burthens and 

 riders on hard pavements and rough gravelly 

 highways. To make horses, therefore, equal to 



