304 



LEATHER AND RUBBER SOLES, ETC. 



3. DowNiE & Harris's Eubber Pad with Frog Cleft. 



This is one of the oldest riihher pads. It is fixed to the 

 shoe and forms a cushion, at the same time transmitting 

 pressure to the sole and hars. Towards the frog cleft (b) it is 

 depressed and becomes thinner (a). The margins of the frog 

 cleft should lie in the lateral furrows of the frog. The pad 

 prevents concussion, diminishes slipping, and obviates balling 

 of snow. It can be worn continuously and improves many 



ElG. 302 A. — Downie's rubber pad. a, concave portiou ; b, incision for the recei)tioii of 

 the frog ; c, outer margin on which the wall rests. 



(defective) feet. For convex soles, however, it is disadvantage- 

 ous, and in very oblique hoofs there is difficulty in applying it. 

 In fitting it the lateral furrows of the frog should be 

 moderately cut out, especially towards the heel, and to make it 

 correspond to the sole the pad must sometimes be trimmed with 

 the knife. The shoe should be moderately strong and not 

 excessively seated out, the inner upper border being well rounded 

 off. At the toe the pad should not project below the ground 

 surface of the shoe, but at the heels it may extend -|- inch 

 lower. In driving the nails the cushion part should be pressed 

 against the inner margin of the shoe by the thumb of the left 

 hand, so as to ensure its lying correctly. The disadvantages 

 of using this pad are the occasional loosening of the shoe and 

 the entrance of sand, which leads to bruising" of the sole. 



