160 HORSES AND ROADS. 



which greatly increases that of both, upon the bones 

 of the foot ; these are jammed with immense violence 

 into the hoof, both sides of which are so fettered that 

 neither can yield to make room for them, and they 

 consequently squeeze the exquisitely sensitive lining 

 of the hoof between their own hard substance, the 

 unyielding horn, and the shanks of one, two, or three 

 nails, as the case may be, in a merciless manner.' 



Mr. Miles had, as we have already seen, proved 

 by clever experiments that expansion and contrac- 

 tion positively do exist to a very marked extent in 

 the horse's foot ; and it is now universally recognised, 

 in England, at least, that such is the case. To allow 

 them scope, he inserted nails in the shoe on the 

 outside only of the hoof, and used but few nails even 

 at that. The shoe was found to remain on, and the 

 foot to be benefited, and he thus made an improve- 

 ment ; but no one followed it up, although veterinary 

 surgeons said he was right. How is this to be ac- 

 counted for, any more than the failure of ' Impecunio- 

 sus' to make an impression ? because people cannot 

 be induced to care for, or think of, their horses any 

 longer than whilst they are on their backs. Both of 

 these gentlemen, although without being aware of 

 it, were precursors of the non-shoeing system, as 

 may be seen by their gradual, although only partial 

 and tardy, reduction of iron, in the number of nails 

 and the size, form, and weight of shoe. Iron was 

 still their stumbling-block, as it will continue to be 

 that of all who uphold its use. It cannot, in any 

 shape, be used to full advantage. 



