S6o , HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



In M. Bouley's writings we find excellent principles 

 laid down with regard to shoeing, though he recommends 

 a certain amount of paring of the sole. M. Goyaus 

 little treatise is, perhaps, the best practical work on shoe- 

 ing that has appeared in France; while M. Megnin's is 

 remarkable for the great research and ability displayed in 

 investigating the history of French flirriery. 



In 1840, M. Riquet, a veterinary surgeon of some 

 rjpute, introduced what he termed a ' podometrical ' 

 method of shoeing.' We have already casually intimated 

 that, from the time when the improvement of fitting- 

 shoes hot to the hoofs was introduced, a few amateurs and 

 professional men fancied that injury was done to the 

 horse's foot. In rare cases this was the case, no doubt ; 

 for the custom of paring the sole almost to the quick was 

 so prevalent, that we cannot wonder if a careless workman 

 did now and again retain the hot shoe long enough 

 against the lower margin of the crust, to permit the bor- 

 der of the sensitive sole to suffer from the high tem- 

 perature in its vicinity. These accidents, however, appear 

 to have been remarkably unfrequent, if we may judge 

 from their being so seldom alluded to. 



The idea prevailed to some extent, nevertheless, that 

 hot fitting was hurtful, and it was to guard against its 

 effects that the foot-measure shoeing was introduced. The 

 instrument contrived to note the dimensions of the foot was 

 ingenious, though defective, and the system altogether was 

 so well conceived that it attained a large amount of popu- 

 larity in a short time. The size, though not the shape, of 



' De la Ferrure Podometrique. Tours, 1840. 



