MOORCROFVS METHOD. ci 



b' I 



Moorcroft thought very injurious. Next, the shoe in 

 common use is noticed. This is the same as that so 

 strongly commented upon by Osmer and Clark, with its 

 upper surface sloping downwards from the outer to the 

 inner edge. Its defects are indicated in a similar manner, 

 and it is shown that a shoe ought to possess the following 

 qualities : it ought to be so strong as to wear a reasonable 

 time ; it ought to give to the crust all the support it can 

 receive; it ought not to alter the natural shape of the 

 foot ; and it ought not to press at all on the sole, or to 

 injure any of the natural functions of the foot. The shoe 

 best calculated to answer these purposes was that so 

 strongly recommended by Osmer and Clark, and which 

 Mr Moorcroft designated the ' seated shoe ; ' all the ex- 

 periments he had instituted for a number of years led 

 him to this conclusion. His directions as to paring the 

 sole and frog are similar to those of Mr Clark ; though 

 the nature and functions of the latter appear to have 

 been imperfectly understood by him, as he complains of 

 the frog becoming hard and losing its spongy texture 

 when allowed to remain unpared and in contact with the 

 ground. ' Eight nails for each shoe are found to be enough 

 for saddle and light draught horses ; but for such as are 

 employed in heavy draught, ten are required. A smaller 

 number does not hold the shoe sufficiently fast ; and a 

 greater number, by acting like so many wedges, weaken 

 the hoof, and rather dispose the crust to break off than 



give additional security It may be laid down 



as a general rule, that the last nail should not be 

 nearer to the heel than from two inches to an inch and 

 a half.' 



