ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 343 



fends the flefhv foal above it, and the internal 

 parts of the foot, from the accidental contact 

 of hard bodies ; but from its concave form, 

 appears not to have been intended by nature 

 to bear weight, excepting round the extremi- 

 ties adjoining the wall. The wall, or cruft of 

 the foot, is the thick edge furrounding it, from, 

 heel to heel ; it is the bottom of that portion 

 of the fole which envelopes the front and fides 

 of the foot, fet up as it were vertically, and 

 thence able to contain nails driven in a vertical 

 direction. This wall then, or rim, is plainly the 

 place on which to fix a fupport and guard for 

 the foot ; for on the wall, and the frog, the ani- 

 mal naturally bears his weight, and the frog, in 

 a found and healthy ftate, from its tough and 

 elaftic nature, needs no artificial defence. — 

 This being the ftate of the cafe, one would 

 fuppofe, that in order to good and fafe fhoeing 

 of horfes, nothing farther could be neceilary 

 than to follow the direclions of nature, and the 

 dictates of common fenfe. That is to fay, to 

 place the needful guard around the wall of the 

 hoof, the extent of which muft determine the 

 length of the fhoe ; to have efpecial care that 

 no more iron, than is abfolutely neceffary, ei- 

 ther in length, width, or fubftance, be nailed to 

 the foot, left the artificial covering, by its fu T 

 perior weight and hardnefs, break and wear 

 away the natural, and fo the remedy itfelf turn 



z 4 out 



