THE HORSE. 



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tbe horse, four nails on tlie outside and three on the inside will be suffi- 

 cient; and the last nail, being far from the heels, will allow more ex- 

 pansion there. 



The inside part of the web is beveled off, or rendered concave, that 

 it may not press upon the sole. Notwithstanding the shoe, the sole does, 

 although to a very inconsiderable extent, descend when the foot of the 

 horse is put on the ground. It is unable to bear constant or even oc- 

 casional pressure, and if it came in contact with the shoe, the sensible 

 sole between it and the coffin-bone would be bruised, and lameness would 

 ensue. Many of our horses, from too early and undue work, have the 

 natural concave sole flattened, and the disposition to descend, and the 

 degree of descent, are thereby increased. The concave shoe prevents, 

 even in this case, the possibility of much injury, because the sole can 

 never descend in the degree in which the shoe is or may be beveled. A 

 shoe beveled still farther is necessary to protect the projecting or pum- 

 iced foot. 



THE UNILATERAL SHOE. 



The Unilateral or One-Side Nailed Shoe.— This is a material improve- 

 ment in the art of shoeing, for which we are indebted to Mr. Turner. 



What was the state of the foot of the horse a few years ago ? An un- 

 yielding iron hoof was attached to it by four nails in each quarter, and 

 the consequence was, that in nine cases out often the foot underwent a 

 very' considerable alteration in its form and in its usefulness. Before it 

 had attained its full development — before the animal was five years old, 

 there was, in a great many cases, an evident contraction of the hoof. 

 There was an alteration in the manner of going. The step was short- 

 ened, the sole was hollowed, the frog was diseased, the general elasticity 

 of the foot was destroyed — there was a disorganization of the whole 

 liorny cavity, and the value of the horse was materially diminished. 

 AVhat was the grand cause of tliis ? It was the restraint of the shoe. 

 The firm attachment of it to the foot by nails in each quarter, and the 

 consequent strain to which the quarters and every part of the foot were 

 exposed, produced a necessary tendency to contraction, from which 



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