582 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



pagnie Imperiale des Voitures de Paris, and it has already 

 been proved that for the fore-feet, the duration of the 

 shoe leaves nothing to be desired, and it is at least equal 

 to that of the ordinary shoe. For the hind-feet only, be- 

 cause of the hard work imposed upon these horses, more 

 resistance is required ; and I hope to obtain this result 

 when the hoofs become stronger, and allow me to employ 

 shoes which are thicker at the toe, and also adding a kind 

 of clips, for those which twist their feet. At present this 

 is not possible ; the feet have been too long narrowed at 

 the toe, rasped, chiselled, deteriorated, in a word chinoises ; 

 and it is necessary that I wait until nature, with the help 

 of the simple protection she requires, repair the damage 

 which has been done. It is not usually until the third or 

 fourth shoeing, when the wall begins to grow thicker, and 

 the horn of the sole stronger and more solid, that we may 

 venture to put on strong shoes and imbed them well.' 



As this mode of shoeing has attracted much attention, 

 and as it presents several features which, if they are not 

 particularly novel, are yet interesting, closely connected 

 as they are with the functions and preservation of the 

 horse's foot, the principles followed in its application will 

 be noticed somewhat in detail, particularly as they are 

 sufficiently simple to be readily understood. 



The instruments required differ but little from those 

 now in use, though they may be much lighter and more 

 convenient. The boutoir employed by the French inare- 

 chal to pare the foot has, in this instance, its borders raised 

 at right angles to a certain height, and is provided with a 

 guide or regulator in the middle of its lower face, so as to 

 give to each side of the blade a width proportioned to the 



