ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 339 



ftefs. All horfes feet, it is true, are fufficient in 

 themfelves, while running abroad in a natural 

 ftate, and generally fuperabound in fubftance ; 

 but it muft be confidered, in that fituation, 

 they do not labour, nor bear any extraneous 

 weight. In the conftant and fevere labour per- 

 formed by Horfes in civilized countries, it has 

 ever been experienced, that the growth even of 

 hoofs the molt luxuriant and obdurate, never 

 equals the confumption occafioned by friction, 

 and that with the generality of feet, all work is 

 impracticable without an artificial defence. — 

 Hence the neceflity of iron (hoes. Several 

 {hocking inftances have been reported of late 

 years, of the feet of miferable horfes having 

 been totally worn off, and of the animals being 

 obliged, in confequence, to be knocked on the 

 head, from having loft their (hoes in running 

 a ftage in the mail-coach by night ; and I have 

 been told of fottifh and beaflly fellows, who 

 have brought a horfe home in the night, with 

 one of its fore feet worn to the bones, and its 

 fides bathed in blood ; the ftupid wretches not 

 having the fenfe or feeling to difcover the acci- 

 dent, and their generous, and high-fpirited 

 horfes, anfwering the fpur in that dreadful ftate 

 of torture. 



Of the ancient mode of fhoeing, little or no- 

 thing has been handed down ; but it may be 

 prefumed that the method at prefent in ufe 



z 2 among 



