4 HISTOEY OF HOESE-SHOEING. 



hard and rounded hoofs and concave soles, and the care taken 

 to improve the quality of the horn, many grades were recog- 

 nised, as shown by the terms imgulcc, attritcv, detritce, suhtritce, 

 etc., which continually recur in the writings of Absyrtus, 

 Theomnestus, and Vegetius. For baggage horses, Xenophon 

 recommends leather soles and shoes. Aristotle speaks of a 

 kind of sock which was bound on the feet of camels used in 

 war. The Greek veterinary surgeon Absyrtus clearly indicates* 

 the evils due to the straps by which the soles were affixed. 

 Cato suo-Qjests that the under surface of draught animals' feet 

 should be smeared witli fluid pitch to make them more 

 resistant. Columella, Theomnestus, and Vegetius describe pro- 

 tecting soles or shoes formed of woven broom, reeds, and bast 

 (sokm spartece), and fastened to the hoof by straps. Similar shoes 

 are still used in Japan. The Eomans also used metal shoes 

 {solem ferrece). Suetonius states that Nero took with him on a 

 certain journey 1000 carriages drawn by mules shod with 

 sandals or soles of silver. Pliny asserts that the mule of 

 Popea (wife of Nero) was provided with gold soles. These 

 soles, termed hipposandals, etc., are found all over Germany, 

 France, and England, wherever the Eomans settled. The 

 richest discovery was made in 1851 and 1855, during the 

 excavations at Dalheim in Luxembourg. 



Hipposandals, though varying in form, usually consist of an 

 oval metal plate, prolonged backwards on either side, and 



sometimes carrying a curved 

 hook. In front and laterally 

 are wings, provided with eyes 

 and rings. Others are dis- 

 tinguished by the sides being 

 bent upwards in front and 

 behind, so that when seen 



Fig. 1. — Iron hipposandal, found during the „ ^ • ^ ^^ ^ ^ 



excavation of a Kouian baUi near Lazenhansen irOUl the Side thCy reSembiC 

 (Wiirtemberg). . 



an ancient galley (fig. 1). 

 Straps passed through these ' clips,' hooks, eyes, and rings, 

 fastened the shoe to the foot. It would therefore appear that 

 such shoes were only used for slow work, or for animals 

 whose hoofs were already excessively worn. This view is con- 

 firmed by the rarity of such hipposandals, as compared with 

 nailed-on shoes. 



