684 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. ' 



when the foot, limb, or even certain regions of the body, are 

 irregular or defective, this handicraft may be successfully 

 utilized in regulating, or curing, these. Science now-a- 

 days requires that it may furnish more than a simple 

 defence for the horny case ; it must not only be a protector 

 of nature's work, but it must also be a remedial agent when 

 that work, from some cause or other, is deranged or im- 

 perfect so far as to be unserviceable to man. The mere 

 mechanical workman, who sees nothing in the horse's 

 foot but the horn, which he may cut and rasp away to 

 suit his fancy, or through which he may recklessly drive 

 any number of nails, and knows not how to apply the 

 resources of this art to the many circumstances which 

 urgently require a deviation from routine, is not the 

 artisan who can truly minister in assisting, as well as pro- 

 tecting, nature. 



The art of farriery, by careful study, and by the ap- 

 plication to it of those teachings which are to be derived 

 from anatomy and physiology, should take the rank of a 

 science ; but even then it would, and must always, remain 

 a science of practice and experience. 



No more useful lesson can, perhaps, be read with 

 regard to our management of the horse than that to be 

 found in the history of horse-shoes and horse-shoeing. It 

 is one in which humanity and utility have for many ages 

 been, and probably always will be, deeply concerned ; and 

 it is one of the most sacred duties devolving upon us to 

 see that, while we exact services from this noble creature 

 which we could not obtain from any other, and which 

 make its whole life one of slavery and toil, we do our 



