56 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



panding at every point. There will be more stress on the crust at these 

 holes, which will not only enlarge them and destroy the fixed attach- 

 ment of the shoe to the hoof, but often tear away portions of the crust. 

 This shoe, in order to answer the intended purpose, should consist of 

 many joints, running along the sides and quarters, which would make it 

 too complicated and expensive and frail for general use. 



While the shoe is to be attached to the foot by nails, we must be con- 

 tent with the concave-seated or unilateral one, taking care to place the 

 nail-holes as far from the heels, and particularly from the inner heel, as 

 the state of the foot and the nature of the work will admit ; and where 

 the country is not too heavy nor the work too severe, omitting all but 

 two on the inner side of the foot. 



Felt or Leather Soles. — When the foot is bruised or inflamed, the con- 

 cussion or shock produced by the hard contact of the elastic iron w^ith 

 the ground gives the animal much pain, and aggravates the injury or 

 disease. A strip of felt or leather is therefore sometimes placed between 

 the seating of the shoe and the crust, which, from its want of elasticity, 

 deadens or materially lessens the vibration or shock, and the horse 

 treads more freely and is evidently relieved. This is a good contriv 

 ance while the inflammation or tenderness of the foot continues, but a 

 very bad practice if constantly adopted. The nails cannot be driven so 

 surely or securely when this substance is interposed between the shoe 

 and the foot. The contraction and swelling of the felt or leather from 

 the eflfect of moisture or dryness will soon render the attachment of the 

 shoe less firm, there vvill be too much play upon the nails, the nail-holes 

 will enlarge, and the crust will be broken away. 



After wounds or extensive bruises of the sole, or wdiere the sole is thin 

 and flat and tender, it is sometimes covered with a piece of leather, fit- 

 ted to the sole and nailed on with the shoe. This may be allowed as a 

 temporary defense of the foot; but there is the same objection to its 

 permanent use for the insecurity of fastening, and the strain on the crust 

 and the frequent chipping of it. There are also these additional incon- 

 veniences, that if the hollow between the sole and the leather is filled 

 with stopping and tow, it is exceedingly difficult to introduce them so 

 evenly and accurately as not to produce partial or injurious pressure. A 

 few days' work will almost invariably so derange the padding as to cause 

 unequal pressure. The long contact of the sole with stopping of almost 

 every kind, will produce not a healthy elastic horn, but that of a scaly, 

 spongy nature, and if the hollow is not thus filled, gravel and dirt will 

 insinuate themselves and eat into and injure the foot. 



Stopping the Ft'et. — The general habit of stopping the feet requires 

 some consideration. It is a very good or very bad practice, according 

 to circumstances. When the sole is flat and thin it should be omitted, 

 except on the evening before shoeing, and then the application of a little 

 moisture may render the paring of the foot safer and more easy. If it 

 were oftener used it would soften the foot, and not only increase the 

 tendency to descent, but the occasional occurrence of lameness from 

 pebbles or irregularities of the road. 



Professor Stewart gives a valuable account of the proper application 

 of stopping: "Farm horses seldom require any stopping. Their feet 



