532 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



form existed only in theory, as there are none in practice. 

 It is necessary, however, to remark, that the degree of 

 inclination must be regulated by the previous state of the 

 foot, and its propensity to contraction. . . . When it is 

 recollected that the horny sole, if not diseased, is concave, 

 it will in course admit of a convex surface being applied 

 to it; and when the superfluous parts of the horny sole 

 produced since the last shoeing are removed, and the crust 

 at the quarters is preserved firm and good, there is scarcely 

 an instance where this mode of shoeing cannot be put 

 into practice, and sufficient room be left also to pass a 

 picker between the shoe and the sole to the nails.' 



The preparation of the foot, previous to shoeing, con- 

 sisted in the removal of all the superfluous growth : ' When 

 hoofs are protected by shoes, the consumption of horn by 

 wear and tear is nearly prevented ; but as the growth of the 

 hoof is constantly going on, it is evident that all the 

 superfluous parts will require to be removed at every 

 period of shoeing, otherwise it would run into a state of 

 exuberance similar to the human nails if they \^'ere not 

 cut. • The first part to be reduced is the toe, which should 

 be removed with a knife or rasp on the sole side of the 

 foot, keeping in view the necessary curve : the next parts 

 are the heels, which should, if they descend below the 

 frog, be rasped to bring them on a level with it : having 

 attended to these two points, it will be seen how much it 

 is necessary to remove from the quarters, leaving them 

 full and strong, but in a straight line from the heels to 

 the curve, which allows the foot, when in action, a flat 

 part to land on, and describes a space equal to the landing 

 part of the foot when shod with a parallel shoe. This 



