584 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



wards, just as necessity may require when preparing the 

 hoof. The guiding power in this respect is considerably 

 enhanced by a portion of the anterior extremity of the 

 plate being bent downwards at a right angle to the knife, 

 and to about the same extent as the end of the blade is 

 turned upwards ; this shoulder rests against the face of 

 the wall of the hoof, and very materially aids the shoer 

 in performing the most difficult and hazardous part of 

 the operation — the cutting so close to the sensitive and 

 vascular structures of the foot without injuring them.' 



Charlier's directions for forging the shoes are these : 

 ' The most convenient-sized iron is that in bar f X I 

 inch for large shoes, and | X | for small ones ; or 

 even square iron, more or less thick, according to the 

 strength required. From such bars the shoes can be 

 forged with an ordinary hammer : the iron is cut off in 

 lengths proportioned to the size of the shoe ; one side is 

 made at a heat, but without stamping the holes ; the 

 second side is formed at the second heat, the turning of 

 the shoe to its proper shape being effected by principally 

 striking its upper border around the toe on the beak of 

 the anvil, so as to give it the natural inclination of the 

 foot. A shoe thus turned is narrower on its upper or 

 foot surface than its lower or ground one. 



'The nail-holes are made in each branch or side, and 

 are two or three, rarely four, in number ; one at the side 

 of the toe, another at the quarter or middle of the branch, 

 and a third at the heel, all placed at regular intervals. In 

 my trials of this system I have usually had only three nails 



' Mr Brennand, Instrument-maker, 217, High Holborn, London, 

 now makes this knife from my model. 



