350 ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 



of their quarters and frogs, cannot travel the 

 roads without an artificial defence for thofe 

 parts ; but what can induce our rational and 

 better kind of farriers to reject this theory 

 where it is practicable ? For what end or pur- 

 pofe, do they ftill continue to fet a good foot 

 upon a convex, in preference to a flat and even 

 furface of iron, and to make thick inftead of 

 thin (hoe-heels, thereby preventing the frog 

 from refting on the ground, and the animal 

 from enjoying that firm fupport, which nature 

 plainly intended, and of which they may be 

 convinced by viewing the horfe in his natural 

 ftate ? If the thoufands and thoufands of horfes, 

 fuddenly let down in the back finews, nobody 

 can tell how or why, did not indicate fome hid- 

 den caufe, dill the ufual reafonings upon the 

 fubjeft, urged by fo many experienced profef- 

 fional writers, ought to fet us upon our guard. 

 The frog, as has been faid, is the natural reft, or 

 fulcrum, of the tendon ; now if this ftands 

 hollow and unfupported, it furely follows that 

 the tendon, upon every exertion, muff fuftain 

 an inordinate ftrefs. I know of no better way 

 of bringing this argument to bear upon the 

 underftanding and feelings of any curious en- 

 quirer, than by advifing him to walk a con- 

 iiderable time upon the balls of his feet, with- 

 out fullering the heels to reft upon the ground ; 

 he will foon experience pains in the mufcles of 



the 



