184 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



means of the clams is a very general method, but to 

 this there are attached many disadvantages, and our 

 professors do not approve of it altogether. It is the 

 most ancient system of operation, and was used by the 

 ancient Greeks. 



SHOEING. 



Of all the operations to which the horse in his domes- 

 ticated state is subjected, the most important and ne- 

 cessary is Shoeing; and having, on that account, 

 occupied the deepest study, it has consequently, of late 

 years, been much improved. 



No precise date can be fixed as to when shoeing was 

 first commenced, and by whom introduced. But we 

 are informed William I., better known as the Con- 

 queror, established the custom in England. The pre- 

 sent artificial improvements in the art of road-making 

 urges th€ utility of the operation, in order to protect 

 the hoof from injury, and to prevent it from being too 

 speedily worn down, although unfortunately, in some 

 cases, it entails on the animals, even where the 

 greatest care is used, unavoidable evils, such as con- 

 traction of the feet, lameness, &c. 



Many of the evil consequences of shoeing arise from 

 the operator having but a very imperfect knowledge 

 of the structure and various functions of the feet. The 

 following observations are necessary to be borne in 

 mind : — 



1. The hoof is divided into four parts, namely, the 

 wall or crust, the bars, the sole, and the horny frog. 



2. The natural form of the hoof is invariably cir- 



