HOOF EXPANSION. 539 



common shoe used in the country is somewhat convex, 

 and the in\A'ard rim of the shoe comes first on the ground : 

 the consequence of this is, that the weight, instead of 

 being borne fairly on the crust, is supported by the nails 

 and the clenches.' ' Shoeing,' he says, ' has entailed on 

 the animal some evils. It has limited or destroyed the 

 beautiful cvpansibil/'fi/ of the lower part of the foot ; it has 

 led to contraction, although that contraction has not 

 always been accompanied by lameness; in the most 

 careful fixing of the best shoe, and in the careless manu- 

 facture and setting on of the bad one, much injury has 

 often been done to the horse.' The web or cover of the 

 seated shoe was to be sufficiently wide to guard the sole 

 from bruises, and as wide at the heel as the frog would 

 permit, in order to cover the seat of corn. The shoe was 

 to be fastened on with nine nails — five on the outside, and 

 four on the inner side; though for small hoofs seven 

 might suffice. The inside part of the foot surface of the 

 shoe was to be levelled ofi^, or made concave, so that it 

 might not press upon the sole. ' Notwithstanding our 

 iron fetter, the sole does, although to a very inconsider- 

 able extent, descend when the foot of the horse is put on 

 the ground. It is unable to bear constant or even occa- 

 sional pressure, and if it came in contact with the shoe, 

 the sensible sole, between the horny sole and the coffin- 

 bone, would be bruised, and lameness would ensue. Many 

 of our horses, from too early and undue work, have the 

 natural concave sole flattened, and the disposition to de- 

 scend and the degree of descent are thereby increased.' 

 ' The web of the shoe is likewise of that thickness, that when 

 the foot is properly pared, the prominent part of the frog 



