PROGRESS OF THE ART OF FARRIERY. 627 



The truth consists in this, that it is not so much new- 

 fangled notions or devices, which have really no practical 

 bearing, and are usually founded on error, that are wanted, 

 but careful attention to the anatomical and physiological 

 teachings which the study of the limb and foot alone can 

 give, and simple adherence to well-established principles 

 which have their foundation in these. A neglect, or want 

 of a just appreciation of the value of the facts which the 

 above sciences furnish, have been fruitful sources of false 

 doctrine in this respect, and have caused much suffering 

 to the unfortunate horse, and loss to his owner. 



For a period extending over very many centuries, 

 it would appear that the horse's foot was regarded and 

 treated pretty much as if it were a block of wood exposed 

 to attrition, and that the sole aim and purpose of shoeing 

 was to defend it from wear. Its anatomy, functions, and 

 maladies, if it had many in primitive times, were little 

 understood ; nor, perhaps, were the less noticeable, but no 

 less important advantages to be derived from the scientific 

 application of farriery, thought of. As M. Megnin re- 

 marks, from the time of their invention, and during many 

 centuries, horse-shoes were simply a narrow iron armature 

 laid fiat against the foot, with the exclusive object of pro- 

 tecting it from wear. This primitive idea of shoeing has 

 its analogy in that now employed by the Arabs : an 

 analogy which is further confirmed in the method of 

 attaching the shoe. In both cases the nails have large 

 heads, intended to grasp the ground ; they take a short, 

 yet strong hold of the wall of the hoof, and the points, 

 instead of being twisted off, are simply turned round to 



the side of the foot. The nail-holes are circular, the necks 



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