114 MODERN FARRIER. 



away without necessity, and was much against rais- 

 ing the heels with calkins ; to the use of which he 

 preferred that of an ice nail. He, however, admits^ 

 that sharp calkins rnay be necessary in hilly countries. 



Several valuable improvements in the art of shoe- 

 ing have been made by the veterinary college ; and 

 jVIr. Coleman has done much to extend our know- 

 ledge on this subject. But perhaps the college has 

 recommended alterations too hastily, and which 

 naturally tends to decrease public confidence. 



The i'rench blacksmiths are neither so neat nor 

 handy in their operations as the English, but they 

 have a better method in driving the nails. The 

 English blacksmith drives the nails up the wall as 

 high as possible, so as to leave but a very small por- 

 tion of the nail to clench ; whereas the French drive 

 them so obliquely outwards, as that the points come 

 out at about three-quarters of an inch above the 

 shoe. This method is safe, and holds the shoe firmer 

 than if the nail had been driven higher up. 



The folio v/ing general rules will be found useful 

 in almost every case that can occur. 



1. The length, breadth, and thickness of the shoe 

 ought to vary according to the form of the hoof. 

 The hoof should never be made to fit the shoe in- 

 stead of the shoe the hoof. 



2. In preparing the foot for the shoe, the dead 

 surface of the sole, and the ragged edges of the frog, 

 should be cut away with the drawing knife ; but 

 the heel must not be scooped out or notched. The 

 bars or binders should not be cut on any pretence 

 whatever. 



3. The shoes of colts should be shaped exactly to 

 the hoof, which at first is always circular : they 

 should also be light, and only Vvdde enough to admit 

 the nails. 



4. The shoe for a well formed hoof should not be 

 above three-quarters of an inch broiid, perfectly flat, 

 and of the same thickness throuGjhout. 



