330' SCIENTIFIC HORSESHOEING. 



ened tlian our ancestors were years ago. For the protection 

 of the horse, laws should be passed requiring men that desire 

 to shoe horses, to pass an examination upon the anatomy of 

 the foot and leg before they are allowed to run a shop. The 

 man that shoos horses is working with a living substance, 

 that has life and feeling such as requires study and thought. 

 In my judgment, it is far more essential that the man should 

 pass an examination in the science of horseshoeing, and re- 

 ceive a certificate from some competent examining board, that 

 he is fully qualified to shoe horses and carry on the horse- 

 shoeing business, than it is to require the school teacher, 

 lawyer and doctor to pass an examination and receive a cer- 

 tificate before thoy are allowed to teach school and practice 

 law and doctor tlie human animal. A great many are carry- 

 ing on horseshoeing shops that have the theoretical part ; but 

 for the jiractical part they have to depend upon practical 

 shoers. To execute properly, the practical part must be 

 learned with the hammer and tongs, with knife and rasp. To 

 be successful, the theory and practice must work in harmony 

 with one another. Such men, alone, in my judgment, should 

 be allowed to carry on the horseshoeing business. The 

 sooner we have laws passed requiring men that shoe horses 

 to pass an examination upon the foot and leg of the horse, 

 the less suffering there will be among horses. Horses do not 

 live out one-half of their days of usefulness on account of 

 the suffering and pain in their feet and legs. There is no 

 man that should be allowed by law to pare and dress the feet 

 of horses unless he thoroughl}- understands the anatomy of the 

 foot and leg. He should know where to cut, and when to 

 stop cutting, as seventy-five per cent of the lameness can be 

 traced and located in the feet. The cause is as much in un- 

 balanced feet as in ill-fitted shoes. I have given cuts of pared 



