104 THE PRACTICAL HORSESHOER. 



foot over two seconds at a time. It should be raised a 

 little two or three times during the operation, in order that 

 the cold air ma}^ keep the heat from penetrating- to the 

 quick. As soon as an impression is obtained I remove the 

 shoe. I also burn in the clinches. This has been my method 

 of shoeing- cattle for many years, and I have g-ained a reputa- 

 tion for making' shoes " hang* on " better than any cold fit- 

 ter can claim in my vicinity. Furthermore, I have seen no 

 rotten or brittle hoofs. Another advantage g-ained in hot 

 fitting- is that the heat has a tendency to soften the hoof, and 

 this allows nails to be driven more easily and accurately in 

 cold weather. To sum the matter up, I believe that no bad 

 effect can result from hot fitting' if the work is properly 

 done.— By W. H. B. 



Favors Hot Fitting. 



The reasons given for cold fitting are about as follows : 



1. ^' That burning the hoof seems unnatural, closing its 

 pores, tending to keep the hoof dry," etc., and that ''hot 

 fitting" is adopted because it is a quicker method. 



2. ' ' Hot fitting stops the pores ; it kills the nerves and 

 fibre ; the foot is made brittle ; the shoe will get loose 

 sooner ; the sole of the foot will separate from the inner 

 hoof about once a year ; the foot is made tender and the 

 horse lamed for life ;" all of which, if true, Avould certainly 

 furnish sufficient reasons for abandoning the practice for- 

 ever. 



Kow, from these opinions, backed up as I know they are 

 by many writers upon the subject, both ancient and mod- 

 ern, I, with all due respect, must beg leave to dissent. The 

 position I take is this, that ''hot fitting" is not only the 

 quickest but that it is the best method. By " hot fitting " 

 I do not mean to burn away for several minutes to save 



