MR GOODJVIN'S METHOD. 53,3 



direction differs a little from the French ' adjusting 

 balance,' inasmuch as they direct four points of adjust- 

 ment at the toe, and two at the heels, which leaves the 

 quarters rounded, and renders the foot not so secure on 

 the ground. The sole next must have attention ; the 

 superjluous parts of which that have appeared since the 

 last shoeing should be removed ; this will leave it concave, 

 and the crust or wall below the sole. Mr Moorcroft ob- 

 serves, that paring the soles has a tendency to bring on 

 ' pumiced' feet, but I have not observed any such effect; 

 on the contrary, if the sole is allow^ed to grow too thick, 

 it loses its elastic property, and the sensible sole sujfers in 

 proportion to the degree of thickness and want of elasticity^ 

 The frog, if too large or ragged, was also to be sliced 

 away, and when the shoe was put on, a portion of the 

 crust was to be removed at the heels and quarters. Horses 

 with long pasterns were to have these shoes thicker at the 

 heels, with a view to give support, and to counteract too 

 great a flexure in that part. 



By this method of shoeing, in Mr Goodwin's experi- 

 ence, the proportion of lame horses had been considerably 

 reduced, and defects and deformities removed. The curve 

 or curb at the toe was no disadvantage to draught-horses 

 going up-hill ; the ordinary shoe, when in wear for a few 

 days, lost its sharp edge, and was then far more likely to slip 

 than one with the broad surface of the curved toe. ' Those 

 persons who may be averse to the adjusting curve of the 

 French shoe will find that the next best shape is a perfect 

 plane on the foot side, and the same on the ground side, of 

 the width of the nail-holes all round (which should be of 

 the French form), and the remaining part of the web or 



