ON THE ART OF SHOEING. 3^1 



the calves of the leg, and about the tenda 

 achilles ; and if he fhould carry any weight be- 

 fides his own, will find the pains increafed. — - 

 Now a man might, by habit, bring himfelf to 

 walk in that way, and perhaps without much 

 prefent uneafinefs ; but I conceive he would be 

 infinitely more liable to finew-flrains, than if he 

 walked in his proper and natural (late ; and the 

 cafe is, in a great meafure, though perhaps not 

 precifely the fame, with horfes. With refpecf. 

 to the face of the fhoe, and the fure tread of 

 the horfe upon the ground, one would fuppofe 

 that everv owner of common fenfe, and a mo- 

 derate quantum of difcretion, would take the 

 trouble of reflection entirely out of his farrier's 

 hands ; telling him at once, that there was no 

 office to infure necks, nor any manufactories 

 where jury-ones may be purchafed. Let any 

 man, who thinks this language over-ftrained, 

 take up the foot of a hcrfe, and examine the 

 long, broad, and oval (hoe, with which thou- 

 fands are ridden over the (lippery pavement of 

 London. Let him ferioufly confider how few 

 and uncertain points, an animal of fuch bulk, 

 and bearing additional weight, has to reft upon, 

 more particularly in a fituation of declivity, 

 when the natural ufe and fupport of his heels 

 is denied him : I think, if he confider all this, 

 he will make his will, previous to taking a 

 journey from Hyde Park Corner to White- 

 chapel 



