M3 

 up ouglit to be very short; and if, instead of 

 being turned up whole, as is usually the case, 

 the extremities were divided like the claws of 

 a hammer, and each claw pointed, it would 

 keep the horses much more secure and steady. 

 The point of each claw ought to be consider- 

 ably sharpened, which would make them pene- 

 trate even into ice ; and if one point missed, the 

 animal would be sure to catch upon the other. 

 "When the shoe is turned up and not forked 

 (which I believe has never yet been practised) 

 the edge of the turn-up soon becomes smooth, 

 and the horse slides as much as he would do 

 without it. The heel, as well as the toe, on 

 such occasions ought to be made of steel, 

 which renders them more durable. The trou- 

 ble of making such shoes is rather greater than 

 making plain ones, but it is less expensive to 

 make good shoes than to purchase a good 

 horse ; for if he comes down in frosty wea- 

 ther, it is very probable that he will break 

 either his knees, or his bones, or disable him- 

 self in some way or other. When General 

 Suwarrow crossed the mountains of Sv/itzer- 

 land from Italy, in the depth of winter, he lost 

 most of his cavalry; and no doubt the loss was 



