86 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



A like conclusion was recently arrived at by M. 

 Nickard/ a careful investigator, who has examined all the 

 accessible ancient records and monuments, in order to 

 satisfy himself with regard to this subject ; though, as an 

 archaeologist, he has ignored this modern science. 



So much for the written history of this art in the ages 

 preceding the Christian era, and for some centuries sub- 

 sequently. Notwithstanding the various assumptions put 

 forward by modern writers, founded on obscurely written 

 or incorrectly rendered passages, that nail-shoeing was in 

 use, the balance of evidence, it will be seen, is of a negative 

 character. The frequent allusion to the injuries caused by 

 travelling ; the mention of losses incurred in war-time by the 

 horses breaking down from over-worn hoofs ; the repeated 

 occurrence of words implying that the feet were unprotect- 

 ed ; the studied and judicious manner in vv^hich strong hoofs 

 are spoken of and commended by the Greek and Roman 

 horsemen ; the limited use made of the horse, with its 

 comparatively easily damaged hoofs, and the extensive 

 employment of the mule and ass, inferior animals, but 

 whose feet are so much better protected by horn ; — all 

 would go to prove that no effective armature for this 

 vulnerable part of the horse's body was then known. 



But we have noticed that a special device, though far 

 inferior to that now employed, was had recourse to in the 

 form of a sandal, which, though of a very inconvenient 

 shape, and usually made of unthrifty materials, yet doubt- 

 less served for short journeys, and by being often renewed, 

 answered to some extent for a longer space of time when 

 a horse's feet had become tender from prolonged walking 



' Mem. de la Soc. des Antiq. de France, 1866. 



