50 HORSES AND ROADS. 



obvious conclusion is that we require a strong sound 

 foot to stand, not our work, but our shoe.'' He is, 

 therefore, a strong advocate for the use of tips, 

 adding that ' A sportsman, well known some little 

 time ago in the shires, shod all his horses with tips — 

 hunters, hacks, and carriage horses ; but, although 

 it was seen that his stud went very well shod in this 

 manner, no one followed his example, the world in 

 general being staunch Conservatives, and diametri- 

 cally opposed to any innovation in stable matters, 

 whatever their opinion may be upon other subjects.' 



Here is another extract from Mayhew : ' When 

 the contents of the foot are compressed by the 

 superimposed weight of the animal, or when the 

 hoof is resting upon the ground, the quarters yield 

 to the downward pressure, and they accordingly 

 expand. When the burden is removed by the hoof 

 being raised, the quarters again fly back to their 

 original situations ; the sides, therefore, being in 

 constant motion, are entirely unsuited for the 

 purposes to which the smith compels them. No 

 wonder the clenches are loosened, or the shoes come 

 off, when the nails are driven into parts hardly ever 

 at rest. This action is important to the circulation, 

 for the contraction still allows the arterial blood free 

 ingress, while the expansion permits the full return 

 of the venous current.' 



Although Mayhew was fonnerly demonstrator of 

 anatomy at the Royal Veterinary College, and claims 

 a high respect and admiration for nearly all his 

 observations, the writer is obliged to refrain from 



