82 PRACTICAL HORSESHOEING. 



or to bring them back to a healthy state, they must 

 attend to the laws which govern these functions, and fol- 

 low the indications of nature. Therefore I have asked 

 myself if it is possible to construct a shoe which, while 

 cheaply and easily manufactured by any ordinary farrier, 

 will answer the same ends as the lower surface of the foot 

 does in a natural state, at the same time protecting and 

 supporting it, without interfering to any appreciable ex- 

 tent with the healthy functions of the organ. We have 

 seen that the ordinary shoe is extremely imperfect, if it is 

 not diametrically opposite to what we should consider as 

 calculated to protect the foot, secure a good foothold, and 

 interfere but little with its functions. Instead of support- 

 ing the sole at its strongest part, and thus relieving the 

 wall from much of the strain, it rests on the wall alone ; 

 this is contrary to natural indications. The wide space 

 between sole and shoe affords lodgment to foreign bodies 

 which, when the sole is artistically mutilated, may do 

 grievous harm, and it also increases suction in soft ground ; 

 the hoof shows nothing of this kind. Then again, the 

 ground face of the shoe is a wide and smooth plane which, 

 instead of preventing slipping, conduces to it ; or thick- 

 ened portions project above this face, which disturb the 

 balance and injure the limb, while they are only of very 

 temporary and questionable service in insuring a firm 

 footing. 



In the unshod hoof we see nothing of this, and we are 

 brought to the conclusion, which daily experience amply 

 confirms, that in addition to the ordinary management of 

 the hoof being utterly erroneous, the shoe usually applied 

 to it is very far from what it ought to be. 



' Pattern of Shoe recommended. — If the sole of the 

 hoof has not been mutilated by the knife, it does not re- 

 quire to be covered by the shoe, as Nature has furnished 

 an infinitely better protection. Wide-surface shoes can 



