SHOEING, 237 



of foot-covering. He was at length, however, induced to 

 give it up, as he suffered torment from persons per- 

 petually informing him that his hack had cast a shoe. I 

 have from time to time been shown an immense variety of 

 india-rubber shoes, together with other novel kinds too 

 numerous to mention, and to all of them have found some 

 grave faults. Lyons has, however, lately produced a new 

 specimen, which has been experimented with upon French 

 horses in a manner somewhat successful. It is made 

 entirely of sheep's horn, and is said 'to be particularly 



FOOT WITH TIP. 



adapted to such animals as are known not to be steady- 

 footed when going over pavements. It is, moreover, 

 excessively light and very durable — two excellent qualities 

 — and although at present somewhat more expensive than 

 the ordinary shoe, it will no doubt come down in price 

 when the novelty wears off, and will in all probability 

 replace the present style before the world is many years 

 older. For horses employed in towns it must be peculiarly 

 valuable, as it is said to be an effectual check against 

 slipping. 



