APPLYING THE SHOE. 91 



iated, in the large majority of cases will rest upon the 

 ground for nearly the whole of its length, and sustain 

 beneficial wear. Nearly every one of the horses at pres- 

 ent in my charge, though shod with the army regulation 

 shoe — a very defective model- — have their frogs in this 

 condition ; while all the private horses wearing the modi- 

 fied shoe I have described, exhibit the frog resting for 

 the whole of its length and breadth on the ground. 



But this object, with others of importance, is perfectly 

 attained in what has been designated the "periplantar 

 shoe and method of shoeing," introduced by Veterinary 

 Surgeon Charlie r, of Paris. Leave the hoof entirely in a 

 natural condition, so far as frog, sole, and wall, are con- 

 cerned, and imbed a narrow rim of iron, no thicker than 

 the wall, around the lower circumference of the foot — that 

 exposed to wear — like the iron heel of a man's boot, and 

 we obtain an idea of what the periplantar method of shoe- 

 ing really is. 



The principle of this method of shoeing is, physiologi- 

 cally, perfectly correct. Knowing that the horse's foot is 

 admirably constructed to perform certain definite functions, 

 and that the hoof in ordinary condition is designed to act 

 as the medium through which the most important of these 

 are carried out, but that its circumference is liable to be 

 broken away and worn when nudely exposed, we have 

 only to substitute' for a certain portion of this perishable 

 horn an equivalent portion of more durable metal, and the 

 hoof is secured from damage by wear, while its natural 

 functions remain unimpaired. 



This novel method of shoeing has attracted so much 

 attention, and has in many instances proved so beneficial 

 and worthy of adoption, so far as my experience goes, that 

 I venture to describe, as briefly as possible, the way in 

 which it is carried into execution in the forge. 



The sole and frog, as well as the bars, are left unpared. 



