MODERN FARRIERY IN FRANCE. 559 



nin,' and Goyau;^ and for Belgium those of Defays.^ 

 With an intimate knowledge of the structure and organ- 

 ization of the horse's foot, the majority of these writers 

 attempt to establish the practice of shoeing on a really 

 scientific basis ; and to make it not only subservient to 

 the defence of healthy organs, but also to remedy their 

 diseases and defects. In all these works we can trace a 

 gradual admission of, or approach to, the opinions held 

 by Lafosse with respect to the preservation of the horse's 

 hoof, by abstaining from mutilating it. 



I regret I cannot give anything like a just idea of 

 these writings in the limits I have allowed myself; but as 

 they are comparatively recent, they are easily accessible to 

 the inquirer who is anxious to learn more of the subject 

 than I have attempted to sketch. 



The curved or ' rocking ' shoe of Bourgelat, so ob- 

 jectionable because the horse's foot shod with it had no level 

 or firm base to support the weight of the limb and body, 

 was in general use in France up to a late period ; and 

 though Gohier had diminished the excessive toe and heel 

 curvature, we find Jauze still recommending it, and, more 

 or less modified, it has continued in use to the present day. 



' Ferrure du Cheval. Paris, 1865. La Mareclialerie Fran9aise. 

 Paris, 1867. The French Government has always manifested the great- 

 est anxiety to advance veterinary science, as it has now for many years 

 found the national interest to be deeply concerned in its progress. The 

 subject of farriery has, therefore, not been neglected ; and we observe 

 that the Minister for War has marked his appreciation of the value of 

 this, and the clever little monograph by M. Merche, by bestowing on 

 each of the authors a gold medal. 



" Ferrure du Cheval, Paris, 1869. 



3 Les Ferrures Pathologiques. Brussels, 1866. Mem. sur I'En- 

 castelure. Notice sur une Nouvelle Ferrure a Glace, etc. 



