108 



SHOEING. 



But, bearing in mind the foregoing reply, supposed to be urged in 

 defense of the estabhshed custom, let it now be asked, does the English 

 smith really respect the part, about the integrity of which he appears 

 to be so anxious? How does he act, when he fits upon the foot of a 

 horse a shoe having a clip at the toe ? Does he, then, scrupulously re- 

 spect the most forward portion of the hoof? No ! He actually employs 

 his drawing-knife to cut away the horn, thus forming a bed or seat 

 within which the clip can lie ensconced. Nor is this all ; he turns up 

 the heels of the shoe afterward, thus forming a calkin, and actually 

 throwing the bearing of the hoof on that portion of the foot which he 

 has just denuded of its natural protection. 



A SHOE WITH A CLIP AT THE TOE. 



THE INCISION WHICH PKEPAEE8 THE FOOT TO 

 RECEIVE THE CLIP. 



Against all objections embodying the cruelty of this mode of proceed- 

 ing, it may be responded that the horn is not endowed with sensation ; 

 that it can be cut or burned without awakening the slightest feeling ; 

 and, therefore, the introduction of the present remark is entirely out of 

 place. While listening to such talk, it might be inferred those processes 

 which a few people speak of as exciting no feeling, were positively the 

 sources of pleasure to the animal. But if shoeing is to the horse so per- 

 fectly painless an operation, what makes many of these quadrupeds dread 

 its infliction, and refuse to enter the forge ? Is it excess of happiness 

 that occasions several of these creatures to resist the office of the smith, 

 and provokes a few actually to struggle so violently to escape his atten- 

 tions as to sacrifice their existences ? Is it any form of ecstasy that 

 renders most animals fidgety while being shod, or is it the restlessness 

 of perfect bliss which induces nearly all to move about as though they 

 were anxious to escape ? 



The horse is naturally docile and obedient. To serve man is its 

 destiny, to obey its master is its delight. To please the human savage, 

 it deforms a beautiful frame before it is matured; and, under the im- 



