172 HORSE-SHOEING. 



if not the sole, cause of lameness and inefficiency arose from the 

 faulty character of the protection applied to it, and have sought 

 to avert these by devising various kinds of shoes, or other 

 methods of arming the hoof. 



It is scarcely necessary to say, that from their neglecting, or 

 being unconscious of the harm that resulted from the mal- 

 practices already indicated, their so-called improvements have 

 been impotent for good, and have soon been consigned to for- 

 getf ulness. 



Objects to be Attained. — "We have stated what were the objects to 

 be attained when shoeing was first introduced. To prevent undue 

 wear of the horn, and at the same time to secure a good foothold 

 for the horse, appear to have been all that was considered essen- 

 tial in the infancy of the art of farriery. And it must be 

 conceded that, even now, these are the primary advantages to be 

 achieved in constructing a horse-shoe, no matter what kind of 

 task the horse that wears it may be required to accomplish. 



There can scarcely be a doubt that any thing more simple and 

 efficient, and at the same time less expensive, than a well-devised 

 iron shoe, cannot at present be produced ; nor can the compara- 

 tively safe and ready method of attaching it by nails be super- 

 seded by any other means that we are acquainted with. All 

 teutatives in this direction have failed, either because of their 

 inefficiency or greater expense. 



Simplicity, cheapness, durability, and perfect adaptability to 

 various requirements, are the essentials to be obtained in horse- 

 shoes ; and if one or more of these is absent in any particular 

 pattern, it can never be generally adopted, and is certain to have 

 but brief success. 



The effects of applying an iron defence to the horse's foot, and 

 securing it to the hoof by means of nails, are no doubt a source 

 of injury to that organ ; and even with every care a few 



