SHOEING^ AND DISEASES AND INJURIES OF THE EOOT. 203 



horse-shoes which, for elegance, durability, and safety, are 

 far superior to anything which has yet been made by hand, 

 and at a much less cost. They are supplying shoes in large 

 quantities, of the pattern we have described and recommended, 

 to the army ; and as these shoes are completely finished and 

 ready for immediate application, the time required to shoe a 

 horse is reduced by at least one-half—often a matter of some 

 importance. Not only this, but the shoes can be fitted in a 



Hind Foot. Fore Foot. 



Pattern of Horse-Shoes in use in the British Army. 



cold state, and put on in the stable or anywhere else without 

 the aid of a forge ; consequently, sending horses to the farrier's 

 establishment can be dispensed with. These shoes are made 

 of such good iron that they very rarely break ; they can easily 

 be altered in shape without heating, and are sold in all sizes. 



With regard to nails, all horsemen know how important it 

 is that these should be of the very best quality and shape. 

 The hand-made nails are often very inferior or uncertain in 

 quality, and have to be hammered and pointed by the farrier 

 before they can be driven into the hoof This hammering and 

 pointing require time, and are not always efiected with skill ; 

 the surface of the nail is always uneven and ridged, which 



