154 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



The tow pad is much used in the German cities. that can be screwed on and off, the latter being 

 It consists of an iron shoe with a hollow on the in the shape of the letter H, which prevents 

 inside in which the tow is fixed, coming out them from being too rapidly blunted. 



At xnE Ul.xi ks.mii ii's 



a little beyond the level of the shoe. It thus 

 forms a soft layer, which lessens the shock and 

 also prevents the horse from slipping on the 

 asphalt pavements. 



One of the most important problems is the 

 shoeing of horses in winter, when a shoe is 



Shoes have also been invented for special 

 purposes, more particularly for race horses. 

 To increase their speed more w-eight is put 

 in various ways into certain parts of the shoe ; 

 and in order to oblige the hind feet to be placed 

 outwardly on the ground and thus be thrown 

 beyond the fore feet, more weight is given to 

 the external edge of the shoe. Special shoes 

 have also been invented for all sorts of diseases 

 of the legs and hoofs. To correct hoofs that 

 grow too narrow at the back (feet with pinched 

 heels), there are many kinds of shoeing ; one, for 

 instance, makes the shoe in the shape of a half- 

 moon, leaving the rear half of the hoof unshod. 



S 1 1 1 1 1 I \ I 



Mules 



XI. The Usefulness of Horses 



needed that shall not slip on ice or snow. Before taking leave of this noble quadruped 



Nails with pointed heads may be employed, or we ought to mention the practical utility of 

 shoes sharpened at the points, or pointed bars his body to man. Mare's milk, in the first 



