MR. gerry's letter. 133 



portion, which we call the toe, there being no ex- 

 pansive properties to be neutralised by the shoe. 



One great gain will be evident, namely, the lessen- 

 ing of the weight which the horse has to lift at each 

 step. Also, only half the usual number of nails will 

 be required, so that the horn of the wall is not so 

 much weakened by nail holes. There is also no 

 interference with the frog, which can assume its 

 normal size and form, so as to take the weight of the 

 body before the toe comes into use. I have already 

 mentioned that the importance of the frog is rapidly 

 becoming known in America. Mr. J. W. Gerry, in 

 a letter to the ' Boston Globe,' puts the point very 

 quaintly : — 



' Customers say " My horse needs shoeing ; his 

 frog comes to the ground, and he begins to go lame." 

 What an absurd idea, when Nature intended him to 

 travel on the frog ! If not, why was not the frog put 

 upon the top of the hoof? Nine- tenths of all driving 

 horses have corns because of the iron thick-heeled 

 shoes to keep the frog from the ground.' 



One thing yet is wanting. 



The tip is fastened upon the hoof, and is therefore 

 liable to be wrenched off if the horse should strike 

 its toe against a hard substance. Even if it be only 

 loosened, it becomes dangerous, as the nails are apt 

 to be partly drawn and twisted out of the right 



