AN OLD LAW. 105 



not hold nails unless they are driven higher into 

 the wall, where sound horn is still to be obtained. 



Again, this practice would not be very hurtful 

 were the hoof solid, or if the wall were the same 

 thickness throughout ; but, as the reader may see 

 from the section figured on p. 40, the wall dimi- 

 nishes in thickness up to the coronary ring, where 

 it becomes a mere edo;e of horn. 



Not only does it diminish in thickness, but in 

 strength, so that just below the coronary ring it 

 is as comparatively soft as is the horn at the base 

 of our nails. It also increases in sensitiveness, so 

 that there is very great danger of ' pricking ' the 

 vascular portions, and therefore of laming the horse 

 at the least, even if worse results do not ensue. 

 Many cases have been known where the result of 

 a prick has been the death of the animal through 

 lockjaw. 



In former times there used to be a law in Scot- 

 land that if the shoer pricked a horse, he was obliged 

 to nurse the animal until it had recovered, and to 

 provide an efficient substitute as long as the victim 

 of his carelessness was unable to work. If the horse v 

 died from the wound or its results, an equally good 

 one must be given to the owner. I very much wish 

 that such a law could be re-introduced and acted 

 upon throughout the United Kingdom. 



