594 ' HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



found as many advocates in this respect as the English 

 shoe, equally plane, had, perhaps, previously found oppo- 

 nents in France. 



Despite the opposition offered to M. Charlier's inno- 

 vation, it made progress on the continent, and attracted 

 much attention ; though it has scarcely been noticed in 

 England. The inventor, if such a designation may be 

 applied, was liberally rewarded by the French Govern- 

 ment, and his method of shoeing obtained for him marked 

 honours at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. It has received 

 the liighest measure of praise from the principal veterin- 

 ary teachers of France, among whom were MM. Bouley 

 and Gourdon ; in Italy, Professors Bassi and Demarchi, 

 of the Turin veterinary school, have commended it ; and 

 in Spain, Professor Bellido, chief of the veterinary school 

 of Cordova, has , acknowledged its merits.' 



The somewhat marvellous effects that result from 

 allowing the sole and the posterior parts of the foot to 

 maintain their integrity, and to assume their natural func- 

 tions, appear to have astonished even those who were 

 accustomed to study the physiology of that organ ; 

 though for that matter the same happy results had been 

 constantly, though never generally, recognized, and in this 

 country, at least, it was not at all uncommon to employ 

 horses with these parts unmutilated, and wearing only thin 

 half or whole shoes. 



Fiaschi, no doubt, had noted the same beneficial 



' For the original papers of M. Charlier, and the numerous letters 

 and discussions resulting from this system, see the ' Bulletin de la So- 

 ciete Imperiale et Central de Med. Veterinaire,' for 1865, 1866, and 

 1867. For reports of the experiments in Italy, see the journal 'II 

 Medico Veterinario,' for 1867. 



