92 SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



length of time, is a rule that should never be departed from. 

 For if a perfectly level bearing has been obtained, as ought to 

 be the case if my directions are followed, only a few small 

 nails will be required to hold the shoe securely in place. 



Fig. 29 shows a full-size, transverse section of a hoof, with 

 shoe fitted and nails properly driven, to pass obliquely out 

 through the strong, thick part of the wall, away from the 

 cavity occupied by the sensitive structures of the foot. 



Driving the Nails. — As much care is required in the final 

 adjustment of the shoe to set it right and fit the foot equally in 

 all places, the two middle or quarter-nails should be driven first,, 

 with a few soft strokes of a light hammer, till they are some- 

 what entered ; then see that the shoe fits the outer lines of the 

 hoof evenly and justly, on one side the same as on the other, and 

 that the tread is square and straight. Otherwise, either one or 

 both of the operations — of leveling the foot and fitting or 

 adapting the shoe — may be set at naught by a failure to nail 

 the shoe on in its proper place. When this is done, let the 

 rest of the nails be driven so that their points stand out in 

 line ; then cut them ofi' and clinch them, turning the clinches 

 down with the angle of the hoof and hiding them a little by 

 filing or rasping the wall slightly underneath the clinches before 

 laying them down. 



The Finished Work. — The shoer's work is now supposed 

 to be completed, and he must know when to stop. He must not^ 

 therefore, give any "finishing touches" to the hoof by rasping 

 oft' the outer crust of the wall, in order to make it seem round 

 about the shoe. An ever-beneficent nature has provided for the 

 entire wall from the coronet to the base a fine film of natural 

 horny varnish — the periople — which is necessary for its protec- 

 tion and perfect growth. By robbing it of this proper horny 

 coating, the farrier inflicts an injury on the foot beyond the 



