6o4 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



being unmercifully trenched upon to imbed the clumsy 

 mass of iron as deeply as need be to bring the sometimes 

 shrunken frogs on a level with the lower face of the shoe. 

 The middle of the sole was certainly not pared, but that 

 portion which nature intended should be thickest and 

 strongest, was reduced to a thin pellicle on which the 

 rigid iron was laid. A small handsaw was emploi/ed to 

 open up the heels. The shoes were being fitted cold 

 (though I am informed they have been fitted while at a 

 dark red heat)., and consequently, in every respect, the 

 foot was made to fit the shoe, and the sole and crust had 

 to sufi'er the penalty of the frog reaching the ground. 

 The foot, altogether, was treated as if it were only a block 

 of wood, to be cut and carved into a particular model, 

 and without any regard whatever to its anatomy, func- 

 tions, or sensibility. It was, certainly, no improvement on 

 the commonest method of shoeing in England. 



The most absurd statements were, of course, circulated 

 with regard to the merits of this method. In quoting 

 from the newspaper article, we have noticed some of these 

 pretentious claims, for which there was not the slightest 

 foundation in fact. It was advertised as the 'humane 

 horse-shoe ; ' and these advertisements asserted that it was 

 ' the only horse-shoe which obeys the laws of nature in its 

 construction, and is shaped as nearly in conformity with 

 the natural foot as scientific knowledge and skilful labour 

 can produce ! ' No pains were spared to make a good 

 speculation of the wonderful new invention ; every public 

 announcement of its merits seemed to be written by the 

 same hand that had penned the first tribute of admiration, 

 and recommended this sharp-studded weapon for the 



