204 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



makes it more difficult to drive; and not unfrequently the 

 point is too thin or unsound, which, in many cases, causes it 

 to run into the living parts of the foot, or to break, producing 

 serious results. The Globe horse-nail, which is also made by 

 the above Company, is finished ready for immediate use, is 

 perfectly smooth on its surface, strong at the point, and has 

 withstood the most severe tests with regard to tenacity and 

 durability ; while, being made by machinery, it is always 

 uniform in size and thickness, and does less harm to the hoof 

 than the hand-made nail. These nails are made to fit exactly 

 all the shoes manufactured by the Company, as well as the 

 special shoes provided for the army horses. 



PERIPLANTAR SHOEING. 



Knowing that the horse's foot is admirably constructed to 

 perform certain definite functions, and that the hoof, in 

 ordinary conditions, is designed to act as the medium through 

 which the most important of these are carried out, but that its 

 circumference is liable to be broken away and worn when 

 unduly exposed, we have only to substitute for a certain 

 portion of this perishable horn, an equivalent portion of a 

 more durable material, and the hoof is secured from damage 

 by wear, while its natural functions remain unimpaired. 



With this object in view, what has been designated the 

 Periplantar or Charlier method of shoeing has been introduced, 

 and with considerable success. 



In this method the sole and frog, as well as the bars, are 

 left unpared. The crust or wall is bevelled off at the edge by 

 the rasp, and by means of a special knife, with a movable 

 guide, a groove or recess is made along this bevelled edge to 

 receive the shoe. Into this groove is fitted the shoe. This is 

 a narrow, but somewhat deep, band of iron (or, as now, a 

 mixture of iron and steel; or, better still, Bessemer steel). It 



