30RSE-SHOEING. 



219 



local agricultural show to farriers, who imagine that paring and 

 rasping, and a fantastically-wrought piece of iron, constitute the 

 acme of shoeing, the subject is thought unworthy of notice. 

 Even at the veterinary schools, during my matriculation, it was 

 dismissed in a brief lecture of an hour, and then pathological 

 shoeing was chiefly referred to. Nothing of the principles or 

 practice was ever taught. 



When the Veterinary Colleges are so indifferent to a matter 

 so closely related to the comfort and efficiency of the horse, we 

 cannot wonder that veterinary siirgeons, as a rule, and farriers, 

 take but little interest in shoeing. 



The remedy for this, of course, should be, in the first place, 

 applied to the teaching-schools. The anatomy and physiology 

 of the horse's foot, its management in health and disease, and 

 the principles and practices of shoeing, ought to be thoroughly 

 inculcated. 



It would be most advantageous if, when this course was 

 adopted, farriers could be prevailed upon to attend, and, after 

 due examination as to their competency to practice their art 

 in a rational manner, they were to receive certificates of pro- 

 ficiency as in Belgium— these certificates carrying with them 

 similar advantages to those that the diploma of surgery confers 

 upon the surgeon. 



In default of this, veterinary surgeons properly qualified for 

 the duty, and possessing the necessary convenience and oppor- 

 tunity, might be induced to receive and instruct apprentices in 

 farriery, granting them authorised certificates when judged to 

 be fit to practice the art. 



Agricultural meetings should also be made the means of in- 

 structing farriers in shoeing, and of stimulating competition in 

 the districts in which they are held. Of course it is a sine qua, 

 non that the instructors and judges should themselves understand 

 the subject thoroughly. 



