THE EXPANDING SHOE FELT OR LEATHER SOLES. 353 



THE EXPANDING SHOE. 



Our subject would not be complete if we did not describe tho 

 supposed expanding- shoe, although it is now almost entirely out 

 of use. It is either seated or concave like the common shoe, with 

 a joint at the toe, by which the natural expansion of the foot is 

 said to be permitted, and the injurious consequences of shoeing 

 prevented. There is, however, this radical defect in the jointed 

 shoe, that the nails occupy the same situation as in the common 

 shoe, and prevent, as they do, the gradual expansion of the sides 

 and quarters, and allow only of the hinge-like motion at the toe. 

 It is a most imperfect accommodation of the expansion of the foot 

 to the action of its internal parts, and even this accommodation 

 is afforded in the slightest possible degree, if it is afforded at all. 

 Either the nails fix the sides and quarters as in the common shoe, 

 and then the joint at the toe is useless : or, if that joint merely 

 opens like a hinge, the nail-holes near the toe can no longer cor- 

 respond with those in the quarters^ which are unequally expand- 

 ing at every point. There will be more stress on tlje crust at 

 these holes, which will not only enlarge them and destroy the 

 fixed attachment of the shoe to the hoof, but often tear away por- 

 tions of the crust. This shoe, in order to answer the intended 

 purpose, should consist of many joints, running along the sides 

 and quarters, which would make it too complicated and expensive 

 and frail for general use. 



While the shoe is to be attached to the foot by nails, we must 

 be content with the concave-seated or unilateral one, taking care 

 to place the nail-holes so far from the heels, and particularly from 

 the inner heel, as the state of the foot and the nature of the work 

 will admit ; and where the country is not too heavy nor the worl 

 too severe, omitting all but two on the imier side of the foot. 



FELT OR LEATHER SOLES. 



When the foot is bruised or inflamed, the concussion or shock 

 produced by the hard contact of the elastic iron with the ground 

 gives the animal much pain, and aggravates the injury or disease. 

 A strip of felt or leather is, therefore, sometimes placed between 

 the seating of the shoe and the crust, which, from its want of 

 elasticity, deadens or materially lessens the vibration or shock, and 

 the horse treads more freely and is evidently relieved. This is a good 

 contrivance while the inflammation or tenderness of the foot con- 

 tinues, but a very bad practice if constantly adopted. The 

 nails cannot be driven so surely or securrly when this sub- 

 stance is mterposed between the shoe and the foot. The contrac- 

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