394 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



It is seated on the foot side, and the outer portion made 

 as accurately flat as possible, and of the exact width of the 

 crust, which it is designed alone to support ; so that the 

 entire weight of that union which exists between the nume- 

 rous little plates which are arranged upon the internal 

 surface of the wall of the foot (which are more particularly 

 described at page 254) and this portion, supports the whole 

 weight of the horse. This flattened portion of the shoe is 

 wider towards the heel, and occupies the entire breadth of 

 the web, to support the heel of the crust and its reflected 

 portion, the bar ; so that while it protects the horn included 

 within the angle from injury, it promotes that equal pressure 

 upon the bar and crust, which is most likely to prevent 

 contraction as well as the growth of the corn. 



We have given a representation of this shoe, plate xi 

 fig. 1. It is secured to the foot by nine nails, five on 

 the outside, and four on the inner side of the shoe. These 

 are not placed parallel to each other, but the outside ones 

 extend a little further towards the heel than on the 

 other side, because the outside heel has more nail-hold, and 

 is thicker and stronger than the inside. When the feet are 

 of moderate size, and not a great deal of work required of 

 the animal, three nails on the inside and four on the outside 

 will be sufficient, and the last nail being distant from the 

 heel, will permit of expansion in that part. Besides, it is 

 always desirable that as few nails as possible should be used, 

 so that they are sufficient to secure the adhesion of the 

 shoe. That there may be no pressure on the sole, the 

 inside of the web of the shoe is bevelled ofl", or rendered 

 concave. As we have already explained, the foot of the 

 horse is exceedingly susceptible, and easily bruised if the 

 sole comes in contact with hard substances. Although it is 

 so far protected by the iron shoe, the sole descends slightly, 



