72 HORSE AND MAN. 



shoe is given, as seen from the front. A represents 

 the double frog, which was intended by nature to 

 rest upon the ground, and form a central bearing like 

 that of the wheel at a in fig. 1. This is more or less 

 cut away, at all events sufficiently to keep it off the 

 ground. Then a thick unyielding iron shoe is nailed 

 on the hoof, so as to take the bearing from the 

 centre, where it was meant to be, and to throw it 

 to the circumference, as at B B, where it has no 

 business, and where it positively injures the animal 

 by causing a jar at every step. 



I may here mention that the space which is left 

 between the shoe and the wall, as shown at c c, is 

 the place where stones lodge, and into which, as we 

 know, they become wedged so firmly, that even the 

 4 picker,' with which all horse riders or drivers 

 ought to be furnished, cannot remove it without 

 the use of considerable force. The reader will see 

 how a stone which is thus lodged must press upon 

 the denuded linea alba, and why it is that a 

 horse falls suddenly when such a misfortune hap- 

 pens. 



If the reader will refer to the natural hoof shown 

 on p. 34, he will see that no stone can possibly lodge 

 in it. 



Lastly, we will take the third duty of the frog — 

 i.e. the power of clinging to slippery and smooth 



