THE horse's foot, AND HOW TO SHOE IT. 285 



shoe, and consequently establishing between the lower 

 margin of the hoof and the shoe an exact co-aptation. 



"It may be added, that, when the surface of the horn 

 has been softened by the action of caloric, the nails enter 

 it more readily ; the clips and inequalities are more easily 

 embedded ; and, when it recovers its habitual consistency 

 after cooling, the union between it and the metallic parts 

 which are in contact becomes all the more intimate be- 

 cause of the slight contraction that follows the expansion 

 produced by the heat. Under these conditions, the horn 

 contracts on the shanks of the nails, and retains them 

 most securely. 



*'A11 the highest veterinary authorities who have 

 studied the subject are unanimous in recommending hot 

 fitting in preference to cold. The latter is only justifiable 

 when it is impossible to adopt the former. The red-hot 

 shoe at once disposes of those inequalities which cannot 

 be discovered, or removed by tools ; and it shows the 

 workman at a glance the bearing of the shoe on the 

 hoof, as well as the imprint of the nail-holes. Without 

 being reheated, any alteration can be readily and at 

 once effected in moulding the shoe to the shape of the 

 toe. 



^'The whole surface of the shoe intended to be in con- 

 tact with the horn should be distinctly impressed on the 

 contour of the hoof, so as to insure the closest and most 

 accurate intimacy between the two ; and this carbonized 

 surface should not be interfered with on any account, 

 except by the rasp, which is only to be employed in re- 



