SHOEING. 109 



pulse of fear, submits to usage which destroys the value of its life. In 

 such a creature, which is denied the use of words, actions must be rea- 

 sonably construed, if we desire to interpret its emotions. The acquies- 

 cence of ages has viewed contortion as the evidence of agony; and 

 universal opinion has regarded nervous movements as being indicative 

 of fear or of suffering. 



The smith, to quiet timidity, may strike "the brute" with his heavy 

 hammer, or with his scarcely lighter pincers. But no severity can 

 deprive flesh of its inherent privilege to writhe, when tortured. Fear- 

 ful injuries have resulted from the smith's impatience. Every blow, 

 however, does not lead to an inquiry; though any animal, having a 

 most retentive memory, may on the next occasion shy as it approaches 

 the door of the forge ; or it may ever after, with that strange perversity 

 for which thoughtless proprietors are at a loss to account, prove resist- 

 ful at the approach of the shoeing smith. Nevertheless, though the 

 pantomime of terror should be a language universally comprehended, 

 few of those most accustomed to horses can see anything in the nervous 

 spasms of the animal but the exhibition of a vice which needs to be re- 

 sisted ! Such people will imagine they deserve to be commended when, 

 by the exertion of their utmost force, they have overpowered the mute 

 timidity which was endeavoring to appeal to the sympathy of its heart- 

 less superiors. 



Calkins to the shoes of the horse, as at present made, are positive 

 abominations. The shoe, in the first instance, is forged too long for the 

 foot, when, the extra length of iron being bent downward, a calkin is 

 established. Below, the author presents a sketch, made from memory, 

 of the highest calkin he ever remembers to have looked upon. It was 

 encountered in the country, soon after the breaking up of a severe frost : 

 and, probably, it was intended to coun- 

 teract the wear of metal which invariably 

 accompanies a frozen condition of the 

 highways. It would, however, with a 

 change of weather, fail in its intent ; for 

 the principal wear is then endured by 

 the toe of the shoe, and the heel com- 

 paratively escapes friction. All such 

 things operate according to their height. 

 They fling the entire bearing forward, 

 where, without any such aid, it must a high calkin. 



strongly press. Although contraction of 



the tendons is mostly confined to cart horses, (and this constrained posi- 

 tion of the foot must favor such an affection,) nevertheless the smith 



