SHOEING. 83 



almost to a certainty made a cripple by the long-con- 

 tinned nse of such a shoe. Corns are also constantly 

 produced by them. The remedy for contracted heels 

 is, to place the foot upon a flat ^Yeb, or sometimes even 

 upon one bevelled at the heel in the opposite direction 

 to the seated shoe. With this I have succeeded in 

 two or three cases in rectifying contraction to a degree 

 which exceeded my most sanguine anticipations." 



The advantage or disadvantage of having calkins 

 either on the fore or hind-shoes, or on both, wiU vary 

 in different cases. But there should be no difference, 

 under any pretence whatever, between the outer and 

 inner heel of the same shoe, in point of elevation. 

 A difference is frequently made for the purpose of pre- 

 venting brushing, or, probably, for some imaginary 

 reason ; but it is highly improper, because in the long 

 run it will be sm-e to induce lameness in the leg, in 

 consequence of the weight of the body being thrown 

 more on the one side of the joint than on the other. It 

 is just as barbarous and injudicious to shoe a horse on 

 this plan, as it would be to oblige a man to walk in a 

 boot with one side of the heel double the thickness of 

 the other. If the smith was obliged to walk for a 

 month in a boot of this description, he would learn to 

 act with wisdom and compassion towards the poor 

 horse. 



In putting on the shoe, the nails should be driven 

 with a gentle hand, and they ought not by any means 



