400 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



when horses have a practice of pawing. The reason why 

 these shoes are made short is to permit those feet which 

 have a tendency to contraction, to return to their natural 

 condition by expansion. 



PATENT SAFETY SHOE. 



PLATE XI. Fig. 6. 



This shoe is constructed of malleable cast-iron. This is 

 accomplished by a chemical process called annealing, which 

 renders the cast-iron less liable to break ; as ordinary cast- 

 iron is nearly as brittle as glass. The figure referred to 

 exhibits the ground side of this shoe. The letters a, a, a, a, 

 are a raised border, intended to strengthen the inward edge 

 of the shoe, as well as to prevent the intrusion of small 

 stones, flint, and dirt, between the sole and shoe, which it is 

 likely would take place but for this protection. 



WATER AND POULTICE BOOTS. 



WATER-BOOT.— PLATE XI. Fig. 7. 



Considerable difficulty has been experienced in keeping 

 diseased feet effectually wet by the application of a poultice. 

 The usual method has been to put the poultice in a piece of 

 old rag or sacking, and set the foot into it, and to tie the 

 edges of the cloth round the fetlock. It must be obvious 

 that the pressure of the foot will soon displace that portion 

 under the sole, where probably it may be most required. 

 Besides this, the cloth is liable to be cut through by the 

 crust, and consequently the greater portion of the applica- 

 tion escapes. 



The poultice and water boot is constructed with a leather 

 bottom, defended by iron plating of different sizes. When 



