454 



THE COXCAVE-SEATED SHOE. 



may be permitted to caution the liorse-proprietor against having his cattle 

 shod by contract, unless he binds down his farrier or veterinary surgeon to 

 remove the shoes once at least in every month ; for if the contractor, by a 

 heavy shoe, and a little steel, can cause five or six weeks to intervene be- 

 tween the shoeings, he will do so, although the feet of the horse must 

 necessarily suffer. The shoe should never be heaWer than the work 

 requires, for an ounce or two in the weight of the shoe will sadly tell at 

 the end of a hard day's work. This is acknowledged in the hunting shoe, 

 which is narrower and lighter than that of the hackney, although the foot 

 of the hac-kney is smaller than that of the hunter. It is more decidedly 

 acknowledged in the racer, who wears a shoe only sufliciently thick to 

 prevent it from bonding when it is used. 



THE CONCAVE -SEATED SHOE. 



The proper form and consti-uction of the shoe is a subject deserving of 

 very serious enquiry, for it is most important to ascertain, if possible, the 

 kind of shoe that will do the least mischief to the feet. A cut is subjoined 

 of that which is useful and valuable for general purposes. It is employed 

 in many of our best forges, and promises gradually to supersede the flat 

 and the simple concave shoe. 



It presents a perfectly flat surface to the ground, in order to give as 

 many points of bearing as possible, except that, on the outer edge, there is 

 a o-i'oove of f idler, in which the nail-holes are punched, so that, sinking 

 into the fuller, their heads project but a little way, and are soon worn down 

 level with the shoe. The ground surface of the common shoe used in the 

 country is somewhat convex, and the inner rim of the shoe comes first on 

 the ground : the consequence of this is, that the weight, instead of being 

 borne fairly on the crust, is supported by the nails and clinches, which 

 must be injurious to the foot, and often chip and break it. 



The web of this shoe is of the same thickness throughout, from the toe 

 to the heel ; and it is sufficiently wide to guard the sole from bruises, and, 

 as much so as the frog will permit, to cover the seat of corn. 



On the foot side it is seated. The outer part of it is accurately flat, and 



