19g PREPARED SOLE. NAILING. 



Take good heed that the inner edge of the shoe-heel bear not on the 

 ground more Vhan the outer, but the contrary. 



Nailing, a very important operation, requires much previous study of the 

 formation and functions of the internal sensible parts of the foot, many inju- 

 ries being inflicted by penetrating those parts to the quick, and thereby occa- 

 sioning them to fester, as we shall see presently, when treating of the diseases 

 incident to the sole. A good aphorism has it thus — " If it were possible to 

 keep the shoe in position without nailing, we should then have arrived at per- 

 fection in the art of shoeing ; it follows that the less number of nails that are 

 driven consistent with safety, is the most commendable practice." I believe 

 it was Mr. Bracy Clark, in the plentitude of his many inventions, who once 

 proposed to fasten on the shoe by enveloping the whole hoof in an iron de- 

 fence, and fastening it by screws ; but the scheme failed for a most obvious 

 reason — its weight increased the offence adverted to elsewhere (page 179). 

 But I will not speculate on novelties, nor further object, simply contenting 

 myself with taking the evil or puncturation as one that is inevilable, though 

 capable of alleviation. All hands agree that the less nailing we could suffice 

 with, the less chance there would be of driving into the quick — hence the 

 firmer each nail is driven, the less liable is the shoe of loosening, and this good 

 never can be effected unless the nails fit the holes so nearly as to prevent shift- 

 ing, and also pass through a good portion of the horn. Doubtless, a couple 

 of'nails on each side would be sufficient to retain a light shoe for a short time, 

 if the work be not heavy, and allow that desirable expansion of the heel which 

 all agree promotes the secretion of new horn, and the health of the foot; but 

 we employ double the number in common work, and seven altogether in the 

 *' improved shoe." 



As before remarked, the fullering usually practised upon the common shoe 

 is so near the edge, that the rim sometimes breaks off of high-tempered iron: 

 whilst, if it be soft, the punching inevitably drives out a bulge that the smith 

 seeks to reduce by hammering, which again contracts the size of the nail- 

 holes; the latter error occasions the nails to break off in driving; the former 

 leaves the heads exposed to be knocked off, or readily worn away ; and by 

 either the security of the shoe is diminished greatly and dangerously. Be- 

 sides which objection to the old method of fullering, there is a corresponding 

 necessity imposed upon the workman, of clenching high up on the hoof, which 

 increases the danger of puncturing the sensible internal parts of the foot. This 

 entire objection to the narrow fuller, or groove, is fully remedied by adopting 

 the proposed manner of punching the nail-holes farther in from the edge, thus 

 takintr firm hold of the whole thickness of the horn, and dnving out sooner 

 and clenching lower than is ordinarily practised — say, within 3 quarters of an 

 inch of the shoe in all cases. 



The nail commonly used is much too long in the shank for any kind of shoe, 

 and too thin near the head ; but should be of the same thickness throughout 

 from the head so far as the pointing takes place. The material must be of the 

 toughest quality, equal to Swedish, insomuch as the nail may bear bending 

 forward and backward half a score times without breaking ; it should have a 

 counter-sink head to match with the second punch-holes, and the hammering 

 which the head receives before, at, and after driving, sufficiently hardens it to 

 resist the immediate effects of wear. Do not point the naiis too much, lest 

 Ihev splinter in the driving, nor make two or three punctures before you drive 

 home each nail : both these practices proclaim the clumsy workman. 



Punching. — As before intimated, the nail-holes should be punched at. fai 

 from the ou.ei edge of the shoe as the v '1 is thick. A small punch of the 

 pize of the nail's shank is to be first driven smartly and visibly through, but 

 not so deep as to raise a burr on the hoof side. Then, open the hole with i 



